Former world golf number one, Tiger Woods, has accepted that he will “never feel great” again after suffering a number of back and knee injuries in recent years.
The 14-times major champion returned to action in December following a 15-month layoff but was forced to pull out of the Dubai Desert Classic last week.
After playing in the first round of the event, he withdrew due to a back spasm.
Woos said: “There were a lot of times I didn’t think I was going to make it back. It was tough, it was more than brutal.”
The 41-year-old American has racked up 79 PGA Tour victories in his career but has not won a major championship since 2008.
“There have been plenty of times when I thought I would never play the game again at the elite level,” Woods, ranked 674th in the world, said.
He said: “It was tough, it was more than brutal. There were times I needed help just to get out of bed.
“I feel good, not great. I don’t think I will ever feel great because it’s three back surgeries, four knee operations.”
Woods is hoping to play in the US Masters in April, the first major of the year.
