I may never play again, fears Tiger Woods

Former world number one Tiger Woods insists “with all my heart” he does not want his career to be over, but admits he is reconciled to the possibility.

Speaking ahead of the Hero World Challenge, the 18-man tournament hosted by his foundation, Woods said he did not know when he would be able to play again after a third back operation in the space of 19 months in October.

And the 39-year-old has now expanded on his fears for the future in a wide-ranging interview in Time magazine, insisting he won’t undergo more surgery and being able to participate in the lives of his two children is more important than golf.

“With all my heart, I do not want to stop playing golf,” Woods said. “But the flip side is, my kids’ lives are much more important to me.

“If I can only do one, it wouldn’t be golf. It would be my kids. That’s still a win-win.”

Woods won the last of his 14 major titles in 2008 and is currently ranked 400th in the world, but insists he can compete at the highest level once more despite turning 40 on December 30.

“I have to get healthy in order to do it, though,” added Woods, who has already been named a vice-captain for the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.

“I will probably play through a little bit of pain; as you get older, you have more aches and pains. But I don’t need another surgery, period.

“No more surgeries. Seven’s enough. Four knees, three backs, enough.”

Off the course, Woods said his relationship with his ex-wife Elin Nordegren is now “fantastic” following their divorce in 2010 after revelations about his infidelities.