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Tiger Breaks His Silence Regarding his Return to Golf

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Tiger Breaks His Silence

In his first in-depth interview since his February car accident, an upbeat Tiger Woods shed light on his traumatic injuries, recovery and what the future might hold.

“I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day—never full time, ever again—but pick and choose, just like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that,” Woods said during a Zoom interview with Golf Digest’s Henni Koyack from his South Florida home. “You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”

Watch the complete video interview below:

“I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest, and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.”

Woods suffered comminuted open fractures to both the tibia and the fibula in his right leg after losing control of his vehicle outside of Los Angeles on Feb. 23. He was rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and subsequently transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he spent three weeks and faced the possibility of amputation.

“There was a point in time when, I wouldn’t say it was 50/50, but it was damn near there if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg. Once I [kept it], I wanted to test and see if I still had my hands. So even in the hospital, I would have [girlfriend] Erica [Herman] and [friend] Rob [McNamara] throw me something. Throw me anything.”

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One of the first memories Woods has after the accident is asking for a golf club to toy around with while in his hospital bed. Such began a rehabilitation process that included three months in a hospital-type bed in his home. Next, a wheelchair. He then progressed to crutches, which allowed him to regain independence and move around at his own will.

“Adding that part into my day-to-day life was so rewarding because I’d been stuck in a house. Granted, it’s a pretty nice house I’ve built for myself, but I hadn’t been able to do the one thing I love to do: I love to go outside and just be outside. Sometimes I just crutch and lay on the grass for an hour because I want to be outside. Missing the contact of a golf ball hit properly is one of the better feelings.”

Woods’ rehabilitation has been a frustrating up-and-down ride—he says he actually expected to progress faster than he did—and, in the dark days shortly after the accident, he says he reverted to a mentality he learned from his father.

“This is where dad’s teaching came into play being in the military and being SF [special forces]. Any SF operator can attest to this—you don’t know how long a firefight is gonna take. It could last five seconds or five hours and some could go on for days at a time. With that in mind, you don’t know when the end is so that’s the hard part. How do you get through that? One of my dad’s ways of getting through that was live meal-to-meal. … I just shortened up the windows of, Oh, this is gonna be nine months of hell, to It’s just two or three hours. If I can repeat these two to three hours at a time. Next thing you know it adds up, it accumulates into weeks months and to a point where here I am talking to you and walking into a room.”

Once he was cleared to practice putting, Woods lengthened the famous Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter that he used to win 14 of his 15 majors, for he couldn’t bend over the same way he used to. Next came chipping competitions with his son, Charlie, and eventually clearance to begin very limited full-swing practice. Woods posted a video of him flushing a short iron to social media last week, which fueled significant hype and speculation on a return. But Woods suggested he is nowhere near ready to compete on the PGA Tour.

“I have so far to go … I’m not even at the halfway point,” he said. “I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I’ve had five back operations. So I’m having to deal with that. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up. … It’s a tough road. But I’m just happy to be able to go out there and watch Charlie play, or go in the backyard and have an hour or two by myself with no one talking, no music, no nothing. I just hear the birds chirping. That part I’ve sorely missed.”

Woods said the prospect of playing with his 12-year-old son has motivated him greatly throughout the process. Some of the first post-accident images that surfaced were of Woods watching Charlie at tournaments around Florida.

“I went to golf tournaments to watch him play, and I’m looking at some of these scores he’s shooting and I said, How the hell are you shooting such high scores? I gotta go check this out,” he told Koyack. “So I’d watch him play and he’s going along great, he has one bad hole, he loses his temper, his temper carries him over to another shot and another shot and it compounds itself. I said, ‘Son, I don’t care how mad you get. Your head could blow off for all I care just as long as you’re 100 percent committed to the next shot. That’s all that matters. That next shot should be the most important shot in your life. It should be more important than breathing. Once you understand that concept, then I think you’ll get better.’ And as the rounds went on throughout the summer, he’s gotten so much better.”

Messages of support and encouragement have poured into Woods’ phone and inbox since the accident—including a call from the president, which Woods cannot recall without laughing about hearing “the White House on line 1.” He also expressed deep gratitude for the way the golf community has embraced him. A number of PGA Tour players have visited Woods at different stages of his recovery, perhaps no one more frequently than Justin Thomas.

“The Thomases and the Woodses are like family,” he said. “JT is like the brother I never had, and Charlie is like the little brother that JT never had.”

Woods will make his first public appearance since the accident at this week’s Hero World Challenge, a 20-man tournament in the Bahamas that benefits his foundation. That he is upright and present this week is hugely encouraging, but Woods knows there is still a long road ahead.

“There’s a lot to look forward to, a lot of hard work to be done—being patient and progressing at a pace that is aggressive but not over the top. Obviously, when I get in the gym and I get flowing and the endorphins get going, I want to go, go, go,” he said. “That’s how I’ve been able to win so many tournaments. But then again, everyone reminds me at what cost? Look at you now. Pre-accident I was what? Ten surgeries. That’s just the wear and tear of doing my sport, of just trying to push it to win everything I possibly can. To win every single tournament I played in, I would do everything I possibly could. Like any sport, there’s a cost to it. There’s a cost of doing business and unfortunately, for sportsmen and sportswomen, injuries are a part of it.”

This article originally appeared on Golf Digest.

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Legendary Golf Coaches and Their Signature Teaching Techniques

A Deep Dive into the Art of Golf Coaching. There are few sports as mentally challenging and technically nuanced as golf.

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There are few sports as mentally challenging and technically nuanced as golf. The game demands a unique blend of physical precision, mental resilience, and strategic insight. As such, the role of a golf coach extends far beyond mere swing mechanics and course management. They also play a crucial part in shaping the mindset and overall approach of the player. In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the profound impact that legendary golf coaches have had on the sport, highlighting their signature teaching styles that have produced world-class golfers and changed the face of golf across generations.

Butch Harmon: The Guru of Simplification

Butch Harmon is a name that resonates with any serious golf enthusiast. Known for his work with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Greg Norman, Harmon’s coaching style is characterized by its simplicity. He focuses on making the swing as effortless as possible, keeping technical jargon to a minimum and emphasizing feel and natural movement. His approach has proven successful, with his students winning numerous major championships.

David Leadbetter: The Technician

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David Leadbetter, renowned for his work with Nick Faldo, is often considered a technician in golf coaching. He pays great attention to minute details of the swing, believing that consistency and efficiency come from mastering the fundamentals. Leadbetter introduced the “A Swing,” a technique designed to simplify the golf swing while increasing efficiency and reducing strain on the body.

Hank Haney: The Strategist

Best known for his six-year coaching tenure with Tiger Woods, Hank Haney is a strategist at heart. Haney emphasizes the importance of course management and strategic decision-making, helping players choose the best shot for any given situation. His teaching style aims to help players understand their strengths and weaknesses, thereby maximizing scoring opportunities on the course.

Sean Foley: The Modernist

Sean Foley represents a new wave of golf coaching, blending traditional golf instruction with modern technology. Notably, he uses advanced tools like 3D motion analysis and Trackman to provide detailed feedback on swing mechanics. Foley, who has worked with players like Justin Rose and Tiger Woods, believes in a holistic approach, incorporating physical fitness and mental preparation into his coaching regimen.

Pete Cowen: The Philosopher

Pete Cowen, known for his work with major winners like Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell, approaches golf coaching from a philosophical perspective. Cowen’s teaching style emphasizes the importance of mental strength, discipline, and a strong work ethic. He believes in building a solid foundation, focusing on short game and wedge play, and then working up to full swings.

Legendary golf coaches like Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Sean Foley, and Pete Cowen have left an indelible mark on the sport. Their unique teaching styles, whether it be simplification, technical precision, strategic insight, technological innovation, or philosophical approach, have helped shape the careers of many world-class golfers. Aspiring golfers and coaches can learn a great deal from their methodologies, applying these lessons to improve their own game or coaching style. After all, golf is not just about the swing; it’s about the approach, both on and off the course.

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Ryder Cup Revelry: A Long Island Love Story (Sort Of)

Did the Ryder Cup fans on Long Island get too loud? Ty Webb talks the rowdy few vs. the quiet majority. Time for some course correction! 🏌️‍♂️

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Well, another Ryder Cup is in the books. And while the scoreboard didn’t exactly sing a sweet American victory tune, the fans… oh, the fans. They certainly hit a high note, even if it was occasionally a little off-key and yelled with a thick Long Island accent.

For those of you who spent the weekend blissfully unaware of the happenings near the big city, let me set the scene. The ultimate transatlantic golf showdown landed in our backyard—specifically, on Long Island, New York. And when you put a major sporting event in a place known for a certain… enthusiasm (and perhaps a few loud opinions about how to drive on the LIE), things are bound to get interesting.

Now, before the entire Tri-State area cancels my membership (if I even had one), let me clarify. Golf fans, by and large, are the best. They appreciate a great shot, know when to clap, and generally understand that “Hole in One!” is not, in fact, an acceptable battle cry on the tee box.

But then there’s the Ryder Cup. It’s like a regular golf tournament went to a party, had too many energy drinks, and decided to wear a very loud, oversized foam Statue of Liberty hat.

The Long Island Effect

Let’s be honest. Long Island has a reputation. We’re talking about people who love their sports, are fiercely loyal, and occasionally view volume control as a suggestion, not a rule. They’re the kind of fans who make you feel like you should be ordering a hot dog with “the works” and shouting “Yankees!” even if it’s a golf tournament.

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This weekend, that famed Long Island swagger was on full display. We saw a few… vocal individuals who clearly believed that the European players needed to be personally informed of every single American’s opinion regarding their putting stroke. Were there chants? You bet. Were there questionable fashion choices in red, white, and blue? Oh, absolutely. I’m pretty sure I saw one guy wearing a Captain America cape and trying to do a chest bump with a security guard.

My advice to those particular patrons? Learn a thing or two from the Zen of the fairway. As I always say, “Nirvana is not as far as you think.” Or, in this case, “Maybe just applaud the guy’s bogey and move on.”

The Quiet Majority

Here’s the thing that often gets lost in the hullabaloo, especially when a broadcast camera zeroes in on the three loudest guys in the grandstands: Most American golf fans were fantastic.

For every chap heckling a European player (which, by the way, is not what golf is about, fellas), there were a hundred others politely murmuring their appreciation, setting a fine example, and genuinely enjoying the world-class golf being played. They’re the silent, appreciative backbone of the gallery—the ones who understand that the real drama is between the golfer and the ball, not between the spectator and his blood alcohol level.

The U.S. is a big place, and our golf culture is deep and respectful. We don’t all act like we’re waiting for the Islanders to score a game-winner. In fact, most of us look at those over-the-top antics and shake our heads with a wry smile, thinking, “Oh, those guys. They must be from the Island.”

A Lesson in Chill

So, to my fellow Americans who might have earned us a reputation for being the loudest kids in the sandbox this weekend: Take a breath. Take a page out of my book. Be the ball. Let the good vibrations flow.

Next time, maybe we could exchange the constant cheering for the serene sound of a well-struck iron. And perhaps trade in that enormous foam finger for a nice, understated pair of sunglasses.

We love the passion, we love the patriotism, but let’s remember that golf is a gentleman’s game. Even when it’s played by guys who might still think a nine-iron is something you use to fight off traffic on the Southern State Parkway.

Keep it classy, America. And maybe next time, let’s win the Cup quietly—or at least, with a little less yelling and a lot more accurate putts.

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Fore! Reasons Your Golf Cart Needs a Glow-Up (and How to Do It)

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Let’s be honest. We all love the game, the fresh air, the occasional well-struck shot that makes us feel like a temporary Rory McIlroy. But what about the unsung hero of our weekend rounds? The trusty, sometimes rusty, golf cart. For too long, these magnificent machines have been relegated to mere utility. A box on wheels to get us from the pro shop to the first tee and back again. Well, I say no more! It’s time to infuse some personality, some pizzazz, some… us into our golf cart experience. Because a golf cart isn’t just a ride; it’s an extension of our golfing soul.

Think about it. We obsess over driver lofts, putter grips, and the perfect golf fashion ensemble. We want to look good, feel good, and play good. Why should our golf cart be any different? It’s often the first and last impression we make on the course, a mobile clubhouse, and sometimes, let’s be real, a temporary confessional after a particularly brutal triple bogey. So, if you’re ready to ditch the drab and embrace the fab, here are four compelling reasons your golf cart needs a serious glow-up, along with some hacker-approved tips to get you started.

1. Stand Out from the Rough (Literally)

Golf courses are a sea of sameness when it comes to carts. White, beige, maybe a splash of green if you’re lucky. But what if your cart announced your arrival with a flourish? Imagine pulling up to the tee box in a cart that screams “I’m here to have fun and maybe even sink a few putts!” A personalized cart isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about making a statement. It’s about showing off your golf passion even before you hit your first drive.

Hacker Hack: Start with a custom paint job or some snazzy vinyl wraps. Think bold stripes, a subtle argyle pattern, or even a replica of your favorite golf course’s logo. For the truly committed golf enthusiast, consider some underglow LED lights. Not only do they look cool, but they also make those twilight rounds a whole lot more exciting. Don’t forget custom golf cart wheels and tires; they can completely transform the look and feel of your golf cart.

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2. Boost Your On-Course Comfort (and Cool Factor)

Let’s face it, golf can be a long day. Hours spent traversing fairways, searching for wayward shots, and waiting for slow groups. Why not make those hours as comfortable as possible? A basic golf cart seat might suffice, but a souped-up one? That’s next-level golf life. We’re talking about enhancing your overall golf experience.

Hacker Hack: Invest in some premium, upholstered golf cart seats. Think marine-grade vinyl for durability and comfort. Add a custom steering wheel for better grip and a more luxurious feel. And for those scorching summer days, a golf cart fan is an absolute game-changer. You can even install a small cooler to keep your beverages chilled, making you the most popular person in your foursome. Consider a golf cart enclosure for those unexpected rain showers or chilly mornings, keeping you dry and warm.

3. Unleash Your Inner Technophile (and Score Better?)

Who says technology is just for your golf swing analyzer? Your golf cart can be a hub of innovation, making your rounds smoother, more enjoyable, and dare I say, potentially lowering your handicap. From GPS systems to rocking sound setups, there’s a world of golf cart tech waiting to be explored. We’re talking about smart golf accessories for your golf cart.

Hacker Hack: Integrate a golf GPS system directly into your dash. No more fumbling with your phone or rangefinder. Install a Bluetooth sound system so you can enjoy your favorite golf podcasts or pump up the jams between holes. And for the ultimate convenience, consider USB charging ports for your phone or other golf gadgets. Some golf carts even offer built-in ball washers and club cleaners, keeping your golf equipment pristine.

4. Express Your Golfing Personality (and Start Conversations)

Your golf cart is a canvas. It’s an opportunity to showcase your unique golf style and personality. Are you a traditionalist? A wild card? A minimalist? Your cart can reflect that. It’s a fantastic conversation starter and a way to connect with other golfers who appreciate a bit of flair. It’s all about golf cart customization and golf cart accessories that speak to you.

Hacker Hack: Personalize your golf cart with custom floor mats, a unique dash panel, or even a personalized license plate (check your local course rules first!). Add some fun decals or stickers that reflect your golfing sense of humor. A custom golf bag attachment can also add a touch of individuality. The possibilities for golf cart upgrades are endless, from practical additions like a sand bottle for divot repair to purely aesthetic touches.

So, next time you’re about to hop into that plain, run-of-the-mill golf cart, think about the potential. Think about the golf cart accessories, golf cart parts, and golf cart upgrades that can transform it into something truly special. Your golf cart isn’t just transportation; it’s an experience. It’s an extension of your golfing journey, and it deserves to shine as brightly as your best golf shot. Now go forth, hackers, and give your golf cart the glow-up it deserves!

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