Tiger Woods 'feeling fantastic' ahead of golf return but not making any promises on future success

Tiger Woods hasn't won a PGA tournament since 2013.
Tiger Woods hasn't won a PGA tournament since 2013. Photo credit: Getty

Tiger Woods isn't making any promises about the success or lack of that awaits him in his latest attempt at a comeback, but he feels better than he has in years.

The 41-year-old American returns to the professional realms this week at his own tournament, the Hero Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods underwent a fourth back surgery in January, an operation that he admits was a last ditch attempt at resurrecting his once prolific career.

Having not won a tournament since 2013, Woods is unsure if he can get back to the golfing elite, but the latest surgery has been a life changer.

"I've come out the other side and I feel fantastic," Woods told reporters in the Bahamas.

"I didn't realise how bad my back was and now that I'm feeling the way I am, it's really hard to imagine the way I was living then with my foot not working, my leg not working and then the hours of not being able to sleep because of the pain."

Woods, who says he is loving life for the first time in years, in embracing the unknown this week.

He freely admits that he has no idea how his body will hold up, but he has put his faith in his surgical team who have given him the all-clear to return to a full-time schedule if he so chooses.

"I don't know - I'm winging this. I don't know what my body can and can't do yet. I don't have pain in my back anymore but I do have stiffness," Woods said.

"I'm just looking forward to getting through the next four rounds. Honestly I don't know where I am at the moment.

"I don't know what type of shots I can play or how hard I can hit the ball. I don't know what the future entails yet as I don't know much about this new body of mine.

"I just really want to compete this week and give myself a chance on the final nine holes to win this thing."

Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving last month for an incident in Florida this past May where he was found asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz by police.

Woods was found to be heavily medicated on five different types of pharmaceutical drugs and a police video of the incident showed the golfing icon in a dazed state as he attempted to follow officer's instructions.

The American admits he has never watched the footage; he said that was a time in his life where he was dealing with constant nerve pain and wasn't sleeping.

"I was trying to go away from the pain ... I was trying to sleep which I hadn't done for a very long time," he said.

"As my back started to improve I have been able to sleep again as I don't have the nerve pain anymore."

Woods has been drawn to play his opening round with reigning PGA Champion Justin Thomas.

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