Woods return to US Open doubtful

May 20, 2014: Recuperating from his pinched nerve surgery, Tiger Woods may not be available for the US Open next month. Woods, who was attending a promotional event for his Quicken Loans National at Congressional Country Club on Monday, said to media men that his return to competitive golf might not be possible very soon.

“I’d love to play,” Woods said in an interview with the Golf Channel’s Damon Hack. “But I just don’t know. There is no date. There is no timetable … I want to play today but it’s just not going to happen.”

Woods said that he would leave the timing of his return to his doctors and trainers.

“It’s not in my hands,” Woods said. “I have to get permission from (doctors) before I can come back. I have to continue to progress … It is slow. It is tedious. I have to make sure I do it right. I’ve had knees. I’ve had Achilles. I could play through those. This one I just can’t do it. Back injuries are no joke. When people say they feel debilitated when their back hurts, I understand what that feels like.”

Ever since his surgery on March 3, Woods has not played any full shot. His back surgery brought immediate relief to his back, which he said had became so devastating that it caused him to doubt his ability to play golf again.

“Forget about playing golf at the highest level. I couldn’t get out of bed,” Woods said. “I was certainly doubtful at that point. What’s it going to feel like? Am I going to be pain free? Am I going to be able to actually do this again, where I can to get out of bed, and go out there and play with my kids and play golf? All those things were up in the air.”

Tiger has been using this rehab period for various ongoing golf works. He visited El Cardonal, the course he is designing in Mexico, and hosted his annual Tiger Jam in Las Vegas recently.