Tiger Woods, who hasn't played a competitive round of golf since July, is set to return to competition on Saturday night at The Match tournament in Belleair, Fla., despite a pain in his right foot.
Woods will team up with Rory McIlroy to take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in a 12-hole competition at Pelican Golf Club.
The match-play event will use a best-ball format, with the best individual score winning each hole.
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Last week, Woods was scheduled to compete in the Hero World Challenge in New Providence, Bahamas, but he withdrew due to foot pain.
He's still struggling with plantar fasciitis in his foot, but he'll be around the course this week in a cart.
"
I can hit golf balls," Woods said.
It's just hard to get from point A to point B, so (the cart) will definitely help me a lot.
Being in a cart is a totally different matter.
It's something I've done at home...quite often.
When I was trying to get ready to play and see if I could do it, the walk was the challenge, not the swing.
“And to add:
” I have to make sure that it heals and that takes time.
It's not something that happens overnight.
It's going to take a lot of rest and healing and unfortunately, treatment.
It is a difficult path.”
The last time the public saw Woods play was at the Open Championship in St. Andrews, where he missed the cut.
He has only appeared in two other events in 2022, placing 47th at the Masters and retiring from the PGA Championship after the third round.
He will have the opportunity to compete with a partner this week.
"
I can tell you one thing," Woods said.
I have the number 1 player in my team, so I'm good
”.
McIlroy also praised Woods: "
He's probably the best iron player that ever lived...probably the best golfer that ever lived. "
And that's all.
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