再手術のウッズ、トップレベル復帰までは「まだ長い道のり」

【マイアミＡＦＰ＝時事】男子ゴルフ、メジャー通算１５勝のタイガー・ウッズ（米国）が３日、９月に受けた腰の手術からの回復状況について、前進はしているものの、世界のトップ選手と戦えるようになるには「まだ長い道のりだ」と述べた。（写真は、自身がホストを務めるヒーロー・ワールドチャレンジに向け、記者会見を行うタイガー・ウッズ）
　３０日に４９歳となるウッズは、自身がホストを務めるヒーロー・ワールドチャレンジに向けた会見で、「少しずつ、止まらずに試しながら前進を続けている」と明かし、復帰の時期は明言できないとしつつ、「後退したくない。とにかく前進を続け、来年に向けてできるだけ可能性が広がるようにしたい」と語った。
　「強くなっている手応えはあるし、以前より柔軟にもなっているが、この大会に出るような選手たちと戦えるようになるまでにはまだ長い道のりだ」
　ウッズはこれまで、出場選手を限定したこの大会で復帰を果たしてきたが、今年は欠場が決まっている。この日も本人から、まだ準備が整っていないというコメントがあった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/12/04-18:54）

Tiger Woods said Tuesday he has a long way to go in his bid to compete against the world's best golfers as he continues to recover from his latest pain-relieving back surgery in September.
I'm just progressively trying to test it, keep making progress without setting it off, said the 15-time major champion, who nevertheless remained confident he would return to competition even though he couldn't say when.
I don't want to have any setbacks, just want to keep making progress and give myself the best chance going into next year as possible, said Woods, who will turn 49 on December 30.
I feel like I'm getting stronger, I'm getting more pliable, but I've got a long way to go to be able to compete against these guys.
Woods was speaking before the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the tournament he hosts for the benefit of his charitable foundation.
He has used the limited-field event in the past to launch a return from injury, but said that this year he just wasn't ready.
I'm not tournament sharp yet, no. I'm still not there, he said. So when I'm ready to compete and play at this level, then I will.
Woods hasn't played since he missed the cut at the British Open in July.
Playing a limited schedule in 2024 as he continued to deal with injuries sustained in a 2021 car crash, Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational because of illness then finished last among those who made the cut at the Masters.
He missed the cut at the PGA Championship and US Open before missing the cut at Royal Troon.
The fire still burns to compete, the US superstar said. The difference is the recovery of the body to do it is not what it used to be...
That's part of age and part of an athlete's journey.
Woods said his back trouble, which caused painful muscle spasms and pain that radiated down one leg, became progressively worse as 2024 went on.
While the procedure successfully alleviated the pain, he said, Woods couldn't yet say how much he would play in 2025 after aiming to play one tournament a month in 2024.
Whether my commitment going forward is once a month, yeah, I could say that all over again, but I truly don't know, he said. I'm just trying to rehab and still get stronger and better and feel better, really give myself the best chance I can going into next year.