Tiger Woods is doing better, but still has a way to go

(Orlando) With the exception of the cart instead of walking, Tiger Woods sometimes looked like he was on Saturday. Not often, but still.

“I maybe hit a couple of punches exactly how I wanted to,” said Woods, who is competing in the Cabin Crew Members Championship with his 12-year-old son, Charlie.

That he can play is already a success, given his right leg injuries suffered in a car accident 10 months ago in Los Angeles.

Woods said doctors mentioned an amputation. For three months, he was immobilized in a hospital bed substitute at his home in Florida.

In this return to the game, camaraderie is more important than competition.

He and Charlie went 62 and are fifth, three strokes behind the leaders, Stewart and Reagan Cink.

On the third hole, a par 5, Woods lodged the ball eight feet from the cup with a 4 iron, from 220 yards.

“It was just ridiculous,” said Justin Thomas. I looked at him and as soon as he sat down in the cart he smiled a little.

“It’s the kind of thing he did when he was healthy. He is not well enough to resume a regular schedule, however.

“Endurance is not there,” admitted Woods, whose last competition was a year ago – the same PNC Championship, where he and his son finished seventh, among 20 teams.

“It was grueling, so the round was slow,” said Woods.

Woods walked laboriously at times – as did Mike Thomas. A 62-year-old club professional, he has a bulging disc on his back and has often winced.

“It’s a success that my dad and Tiger managed to play 18 holes,” said Justin Thomas.

Most of the 3,000 spectators followed Woods and his son, who performed his fair share of good shots.

Woods has previously said he would never consider asking to use a cart in a regular tournament; if that was the only way to play, then he would cancel himself.

“In terms of the quality of the shots, he’s not that far,” said Justin Thomas. But walking 72 holes for several weeks in a row is another story. ”