US Open: Tiger Woods says he can play in 40 more majors

Tiger Woods at the driving range during a practice round ahead of the US Open at Pebble Beach. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Woods told Nicklaus “I’m done” at the Champions Dinner ahead of the 2017 Masters, but subsequently underwent career-saving spinal fusion surgery and won his 15th major at Augusta in April.

“Hypothetically if I give myself another ten years that’s 40 majors,” Woods said yesterday at Pebble Beach, where he won the 2000 US Open by 15 shots.

“The trick is, can I keep myself healthy and strong enough considering what my body has been through? That’s where I need help with all my trainers and physios and workout regimes, and hopefully I can make that happen.”

Woods did not compete between the Masters and the US PGA at Bethpage, where he suffered from an unspecified illness before missing the cut.

“Augusta I was right where I needed to be,” Woods said. “Bethpage, a different story. I was good going into the week, unfortunately just didn’t feel well. And this week I feel like I’m trending in the right direction. I need one more day of prep. I want to see the golf course when it’s a little bit closer to game time. I know they’re holding it back. But I just want to see how much are they going to let it go and show us how it’s going to be come Thursday.”