After missing the 2014 Masters Tournament after 20 years due to back surgery, golf great Tiger Woods is eyeing on the British Open in July as he returns to form. He was absent since March to fix a pinched nerve in his lower back and underwent surgery on April 1. According to a report by Fox Sports, Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent, said the golfer is expecting to return during the summer and is recovering very well.
Golf Channel writes that Woods is preparing for the Open championships at Royal Liverpool on July 17, 2014. The last time that the British Open was set at Royal Liverpool in 2006, Woods won the championship. He beat Chris DiMarco by a couple of shots and hit a single driver in four rounds.
Woods is cleared to start putting and chipping. Steinberg reported, "He's doing a little bit more and more each day. He is on schedule but we don't know what that schedule means. I don't know when he intends to be playing competitively."
Steinberg also shared that he expects the superstar to be back in the summer, but cannot provide a specific date or time until they truly track Woods' progress. They have to determine the schedule based on Woods' return, beginning with chipping and putting.
Although experts said that the poor attendance at the 2014 Masters was largely affected by the absence of Tiger Woods, SB Nation reported that the golfer' absence in the British Open will not likely cause a drop in attendance. Malcolm Booth, spokesperson for the R&A said, "The Open has always drawn a great crowd and we are sure we will again this year." With Tiger present in the past, Royal Liverpool garnered 230,000 visitors. Booth expects a Tiger-less tournament to yield at least 200,000.
Woods also previously said that he is looking forward to the major championship venues for 2014. He said, "They have set up well for me over the years and I look forward to it."