Report: Tiger Woods hitting drivers in addition to other clubs
The Tiger Woods news turned quickly in the last few days from a stream to a flood.
A day after the 14-time major winner shared a video of himself hitting a 9-iron into a simulator, a new report suggests Woods’ progress has made it deeper through the bag. Golf World reporter Tim Rosaforte shared Thursday that Woods is now hitting driver.
All of this progress comes after a Monday report from golf journalist Robert Lusetich citing a source which said Woods had faced a setback in his recovery from a pair of Fall 2015 back surgeries. The source said Woods, who hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since the Wyndham Championship in August, had difficulty sitting and walking for an extended period, and that he had to be transported by car laying in a fully reclined passenger seat.
Woods felt hip pain that week at the Wyndham, in which he ended up tied for 10th place in his best finish of the season. However, after the Wyndham, Woods visited his surgeon in Utah and discovered the source of the pain was the same spot on his back where, in March 2014, he had a microdiscectomy performed. In September, a second microdiscectomy as performed. A month later, a follow-up procedure to clean up complications from the September surgery was done.
In December at his Hero World Challenge, Woods lamented his current physical status. He said he had made no progress in rehab other than to rest and walk for small chunks of time.
While there’s now evidence — video and anecdotal — that Woods can again swing a golf club, there’s been nothing to suggest Woods can do it at full speed or repeatedly for a full range session. There’s no reason to suggest an imminent return date.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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