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Tiger: 'Realistic' to play only a few PGA TOUR events each year

Keyur Khamar / PGA TOUR / Getty

The sporting world was thrown into a frenzy last week when Tiger Woods posted a three-second video of him hitting a crisp iron shot, with speculation abound as to what that means in terms of a return to professional golf.

Woods provided some clarity on Monday to Golf Digest's Henni Koyack in his first interview since suffering open fractures to both the tibia and fibula in his right leg in a February car accident.

"I think something that is realistic is playing the TOUR one day, never full time, ever again, but pick and choose, just like Mr. (Ben) Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that," Woods said. "I think that's how I'm going to have to play it from now on. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it."

The 82-time PGA TOUR winner also shed some light on how his rebab went, including the initial three weeks in hospital following the accident in Los Angeles.

"There was a point in time when, I wouldn't say it was 50-50, but it was near there if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg," Woods said. "Once I (kept it), I wanted to test and see if I still had my hands. So even in the hospital, I would have (girlfriend) Erica and (friend) Rob throw me something. Throw me anything."

Throughout his career, Woods' incredible focus and drive to win was a staple of his success, but the 15-time major winner shared that he's fully at peace with his golfing mortality.

"I don't have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did," Woods said, referring to his 2019 historic Masters victory. "This time around, I don't think I'll have the body to climb Mt. Everest and that's OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. ... But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don't think that's a realistic expectation of me."

Woods will address the media at large for the first time since the accident at this week's Hero World Challenge, a 20-player tournament in Albany, Bahamas, which he hosts. The press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m. ET.

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