- Tiger Woods is set to return to golf at the Hero World Challenge next week
- The Bahamas event is his own and will be his first competition in 10 months
- Woods made a similar comeback at the same event last year and finished 15th
- In April, Woods claimed he underwent a fourth back operation in three years
- Jason Day claimed Woods told him ‘it’s the best he’s felt in three years’
Former World No 1 Jason Day has revealed Tiger Woods is in the best shape he’s been in for three years ahead of his return to golf.
Woods, who has not played competitive golf for 10 months while he recovered from a fourth operation on his back in three years, will make his comeback next week at the Hero World Challenge – a tournament of his own creation held in Albany, Bahamas.
‘I did talk to him and he did say it’s the best he’s ever felt in three years, he doesn’t wake up with pain anymore, which is great,’ Day said on Wednesday ahead of the Australian Open.
Jason Day claims Tiger Woods is ready for his return after revealing a conversation with Woods
‘I totally understand where he’s coming from because sometimes I wake up and it takes me about 10 minutes to get out of bed. For him to be in pain for three years is very frustrating.’
The winner of five tournaments in 2013, 41-year-old Woods has played just 19 events since.
Woods will make his comeback for the second time at the Hero World Challenge after doing the same last year, ending a spell of nearly 16 months on the sidelines, where he finished 15th in a final field of 17.
The 14-times major champion returned to the PGA Tour in January but missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open before shooting an opening-round 77 a week later at the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic – an event where he also withdrew.
Day claimed Woods feels the best he has in three years ahead of next week’s return
Woods has been recovering from his fourth back operation in three years undergone in April
In April, he said he had undergone a fourth operation on his back in three years, but Day, now World No 12 speaking after a lean spell of his own with no wins this year, said the Hero World Challenge was the perfect tournament for Woods to make his return.
‘With regards to him playing next week, there’s no pressure,’ Day added.
‘It’s an 18-man field, there’s no cut … it’s obviously a tournament that suits him, that he likes.
‘He says he’s ready and I’m hoping he is. From what he says, he’s been hitting it long and if he is hitting it long and straight, it’s going to be tough for us.’
But will will make his second return in a year at the Hero World Challenge, Bahamas