During a press conference to promote the 2024 Hero World Challenge where he acts as host, Woods, 48, admitted that ongoing pain related to his years of back issues and surgeries didn’t allow him to play at the high level fans have become accustomed to throughout his highly decorated career.

Tiger Woods said that he’s “got a long way to go” before he can make a return to professional golf, but insists the “fire still burns to compete.”

Tiger Woods was asked about his health and his game on Tuesday at the Hero, but the primary questions focused on his view of the overall state of golf.

Throughout his career Tiger Woods has been reticent about his numerous injuries and physical challenges, so it comes as no great surprise that the 15-time major winner never let on that his chronically troubled back grew increasingly dysfunctional as he attempted to compete in a handful of events in 2024.

Tiger Woods provided an honest assessment of where he is physically after undergoing another back surgery in September. Woods, who isn't competing in

Tiger Woods said Tuesday that he's not close to being physically ready to play in PGA Tour tournaments and has a "long way to go" before he's able to compete against the world's best golfers again. Woods, 48, is not playing in this week's Hero World Challenge, an unofficial event he hosts in the Bahamas.

Tiger Woods is not playing in the 2024 Hero World Challenge due to a variety of nagging injuries. On Tuesday, while holding court as host for his annual tournament in the Bahamas, the 15-time major champion expressed uncertainty about his return to the golf course following a sixth back surgery this September.

Woods isn't sure when he's going to return to competitive golf, but he still has thoughts on some of the pressing issues facing the sport.

Tiger Woods is at the Hero World Challenge this week in the Bahamas, but he won't be playing, telling reporters he isn't sure when he'll be back competing on the PGA Tour.