TULSA, Okla. — On Tuesday, when Tiger Woods spoke publicly for the primary time since his beautiful comeback eventually month’s Masters Event, the anticipated subject was to be his persevering with restoration from a near-fatal 2021 automobile crash. Woods did certainly say his reconstructed proper leg felt stronger as he ready for this week’s P.G.A. Championship, which begins Thursday at Tulsa’s Southern Hills Nation Membership.
However maybe for the primary time at any information convention in Woods’s 30-plus years within the public eye, he spent almost as a lot time discussing a longtime rival, Phil Mickelson, as he did himself. And Woods was not normally chatting about Mickelson in flattering phrases.
Woods was emphatic about distancing himself from Mickelson, who won’t defend his P.G.A. Championship title and has not performed since he made incendiary remarks in February in assist of a Saudi-backed golf league that hopes to rival the established PGA Tour.
Whereas Mickelson previously has privately reached out to Woods throughout his struggles, which have included a sensational marital infidelity scandal in 2009 and the aftermath of a tumbling automobile crash on a Los Angeles-area boulevard final yr, Woods mentioned on Tuesday that he has not contacted Mickelson.
“I’ve not reached out to him; I’ve not spoken to him,” Woods mentioned. “Loads of it has to not do with, I feel, private points. It was our viewpoints of how the tour needs to be run and could possibly be run, and what gamers are enjoying for and the way we’re enjoying for it. I’ve a totally completely different stance on that, so no, I’ve not.”
Woods added: “We miss him being out right here. I imply, he’s an enormous draw for the sport of golf. He’s simply taking his time and all of us want him the most effective when he comes again.”
However after conceding that the social media panorama had escalated and shortly polarized the dispute between the PGA Tour and the breakaway league, Woods mentioned: “And the viewpoints that Phil has made with the tour and what the tour has meant to all of us has been polarizing as effectively.”
Mickelson utilized for a launch from the PGA Tour to play within the inaugural occasion of the upstart golf circuit, LIV Golf, subsequent month outdoors London. The PGA Tour denied Mickelson’s request and any made by its members, and it has threatened to droop or in any other case self-discipline gamers who play within the different tour’s occasions. In February, Mickelson provoked a hailstorm of criticism after he acknowledged Saudi Arabia had a “horrible file on human rights” — together with the homicide of a Washington Submit journalist — however mentioned he was nonetheless speaking with, and aiding, the brand new tour as a result of it was a “once-in-a-lifetime alternative” to use strain on the PGA Tour. Earlier this yr, Mickelson accused the PGA Tour of “obnoxious greed.” He later mentioned his remarks had been “reckless.”
On Tuesday, when Woods was requested how his disagreements with Mickelson could possibly be resolved, Woods replied: “I don’t know if he has to resolve it or not. I perceive completely different viewpoints, however I consider in legacies. I consider in main championships. I consider in massive occasions, comparisons to historic figures of the previous. There’s loads of cash out right here. The tour is rising. Nevertheless it’s similar to another sport, you must go on the market and earn it.”
When he wasn’t discussing Mickelson on Tuesday, Woods’s rebuilt proper leg did look significantly stronger than it did final month when he labored to ascend seemingly each hill throughout the Masters Event on the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership in Georgia. Throughout a apply spherical in Tulsa, Woods really half-jogged up a steep incline.
When requested how a lot he had bodily improved over the last 5 weeks of extra rehabilitation for the intense accidents incurred in his 2021 crash, Woods smiled.
“The primary mountain I climbed was Everest,” he mentioned. “So, yeah, I’m higher than the final time I performed a event.” He added: “I nonetheless have robust days, and issues aren’t going to be as straightforward as individuals may assume. Nonetheless, I’m doing higher — extra optimistic days.”
However tellingly, Woods, who was recognized for nearly ceaseless apply, particularly along with his putter, scoffed when he was requested if he can now apply sufficient.
“Working towards loads? No, I don’t try this anymore,” he answered. “Bending over for a very long time, hitting a bunch of putts like I used to? No, that doesn’t occur — not with my again the best way it’s.”
Some issues, nonetheless, haven’t modified. Woods by no means confirmed up for an occasion except he believed he may end first. That resolve has not wavered.
“I really feel like I can — positively,” Woods responded when requested if he may win. “I simply must go on the market and do it. Begins on Thursday and I’ll be prepared.”
Jon Rahm, who’s the world’s top-ranked males’s golfer and likewise on this week’s subject, mentioned he was not stunned that Woods needs to win each event.
“Hey, the world needs him to win,” Rahm mentioned with a smile.
In what will likely be an eye catching grouping, Rory McIlroy will play in Thursday’s first spherical with Woods and Jordan Spieth, who has gained each main golf title however the P.G.A. Championship. McIlroy expects to see an improve from the Woods who began sturdy eventually month’s Masters however light within the ultimate two rounds.
“It’s been six weeks or so since Augusta?” McIlroy requested. “Six weeks is a protracted sufficient time to get better from that week after which construct your self again up once more.”
