‘Loading Hurts…Walking Hurts…Twisting Hurts’: Tiger Woods Gets Honest About Golf Induced Pain After Life-Altering Injury

Tiger Woods made a decent start to the 104th PGA Championship. His opening round included good ball-striking, and his touch around the greens also looked sublime, despite his right leg still causing him pain. Notably, the 15-time major championship winner spoke about the same and revealed the pain’s impact on his golf swing.

Tiger Woods reflects on his pain and golf swing

Tiger got candid about his condition in a press conference after his round on Thursday at the Southern Hills Country Club. The former World No. 1 talked about how his right leg is bothering him, thereby affecting his golf swing.

Not to forget, the World Golf Hall of Member sustained severe injuries after an accident in February last year. Woods severely injured his right leg in the accident and was away from competitive golf for nearly nine months; he made his comeback to an official event this year at the Masters.

May 18, 2022; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Tiger Woods looks on during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Tiger revealed the issue that the leg creates in his golf swing, saying, “Well, I just can’t load it. Loading hurts, pressing off it hurts, and walking hurts, and twisting hurts. It’s just golf. I don’t play that, if I don’t do that, then I’m all right.” 

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In the same media interaction, Tiger also spoke about his strategy of hitting irons off the tee on a few holes in his opening round. He talked about the same after being asked if hitting irons off-the-tee makes him think he is pretty far back, as his playing partners were hitting drivers.

Woods said, “Well, it wouldn’t have been so far back if I would have hit the iron shot solid. I was playing to my spots, and those guys obviously have a different game plan. It’s just different.” 

Who is leading the 2022 PGA Championship?

Rory McIlroy made a solid start at the major championship event. He carded an opening round of five-under-par, 65, and ended the first round with an overall score of five-under-par. As a result, he is leading the second major championship event of the year. And he enters the second round with a one-shot lead.

McIlroy’s opening round of 65 included three birdies and two bogeys on the opening nine holes; he moved out in one-under-par, 35. Rory made four consecutive birdies and five pars on the back nine to make the turn in four-under-par, 31.

Do you think Rory can hold on to the slim lead? or will Tiger make an enthralling comeback? Share your views in the comments section below.

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