Tiger Woods‘ withdrawal from the Safeway Open last week disappointed fans and sponsors no doubt. But no one was likely as disappointed as Tiger Woods himself. Once a model of consistency, Woods has been at the mercy of his balky body for years. Now Woods says his body is not at issue — he’s confident the surgical fixes have given him back what he needs physically. Withdrawing, Woods simply said his game is “vulnerable” and that he was just not ready to play against the “best golfers in the world.”
If anyone knows what that readiness to compete entails, it’s Woods. Woods holds the record for most consecutive weeks ranked as the No. 1 player in the world (281) and also the most total weeks at No. 1 (683 weeks). That last figure amounts to an astonishing 13 years. Woods hopes to return in December, with his game less vulnerable. He is currently ranked World No. 802.
