Tiger Woods will return to competition for the first time since The Open Championship, although this week is a much more relaxed setting.

The Big Cat is back on the prowl, but golf fans should not feel overly giddy about his appearance at the PNC Championship.

That’s because Tiger Woods is still not feeling fully healthy, something he emphasized at the Hero World Challenge two weeks ago.

“I’m not tournament sharp yet. I’m still not there,” Woods said on December 3.

“I’m not sharp enough to compete against [the 20 best players in the world]. When I’m ready to compete and play at this level, I will.

Woods underwent another back surgery in September and explained that his latest back troubles stemmed from the leg injury he sustained in a 2021 car accident. He said the procedure “helped” but insisted that he was not ready to play in the Bahamas two weeks ago.

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Yet, last Friday, ESPN and TGL released a video of Woods launching a drive at the new SoFi Center, leading to a palpable buzz on social media. His Jupiter Links GC team is scheduled to make its TGL debut on Tuesday, January 14.

But before he does that, Woods will play in this week’s PNC Championship, the father-son event often referred to as the “fifth major” by the legends who participate. Despite that, the environment is much more relaxed, perfect for this time of year and perfect for a soon-to-be 49-year-old who labors to walk, let alone play. Carts are also available for players, which explains why Woods can play this week.

So Woods will take a back seat and rely on his son Charlie this week. The younger Woods has an impressive swing and routinely hits drives exceeding 300 yards. He even qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur earlier this summer.

But the goal for the elder Woods should be to get through this 36-hole stretch pain-free. If he shows no discomfort, golf fans will chalk that up as a win regardless of what the leaderboard says. Any signs to the contrary will leave an indelible mark on this tournament and signal that the end of his career is unfortunately near.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.

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