Woods can still compete at the top – Spieth
Jordan Spieth says Tiger Woods has been the greatest influence on his golf game and believes the former world number one still has plenty to offer.
The 14-time major champion has been plagued by injuries in recent years and earlier this week said he does not know when he will play again.
Woods had microdiscectomy surgery for the second time in September, before undergoing a follow-up procedure a month later.
But the current world number one, defending his title at the Hero World Challenge which benefits the Tiger Woods foundation, believes he will continue to influence the game regardless of whether he returns to playing.
“There’s nobody who had more influence in my golf game than Tiger. You know, it’s tough, it’s tough to see,” Spieth said.
“You just hope he gets healthy. He’s still got a lot of good years ahead of him in my mind as long as he approaches it right, and I don’t know what that is.
“Obviously it’s frustrating for him. You can tell that. But I think we certainly haven’t seen the end of him even if he does say that if the sun sets on the career now, it’s still good.
“I think we can all read between the lines there. I think he’s still got some really good years left out of him.”
Spieth’s comments echo those made by world number three and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, who posted on Instagram earlier this week: “Wishing my idol and friend a speedy recovery. Golf without him doesn’t bear thinking about. Hope to see you back on the course soon @tigerwoods.”
