‘I Know That He’s Going To Try’: Justin Thomas On Tiger Woods’ Potential Comeback

It’s been close to nine months since Tiger Woods was involved in a serious car crash in Southern California, casting doubt as to whether the 15-time major winner will ever be seen on the golf course again. 

The news surrounding his recovery has become steadily more positive over the past few months, with his latest sighting being in early October while at the driving range with his son, Charlie. 

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker gave an update before the U.S. defeated the Europeans at Whistling Straits in September, saying that Woods was “doing well.” 

“I’ve talked to Tiger a lot,” Stricker told Carl Paulson and Dennis Paulson on SiriusXM’s “Inside the Ropes.”

“He’s a part of this Ryder Cup family; he won’t be able to be a captain’s assistant this time around just because of his ongoing rehabilitation to try to get better and try to play golf again, and that is going well. He’s progressing, he’s doing well, things are moving in the right direction.”

Now, Woods’ friend and fellow competitor — Justin Thomas — is giving the public another update on his condition. 

“I’d say I probably go over and see him two or three times a week when I’m home,” Thomas said on the “No Laying Up” podcast. “I go over there more so to let our dogs play and hang out — it wears our pup out. But yeah, he’s doing well. Especially all things considered, I think he’s…I mean, it’s Groundhog Day, every day’s the exact same thing for him. But at least he’s able to — pictures were going around of him at [his son] Charlie’s tournament, [his daughter] Sam’s soccer tournaments here and there. He’s able to be a Dad somewhat again, which is most important.”

Thomas was asked whether Woods had the intention to make a comeback, with Thomas believing that he does, but only if he’s able to compete at a high level. 

“I don’t know, I mean, I know that he’s going to try,” Thomas said. “I don’t see him ever playing if he can’t play well. He doesn’t strike me as a guy who’s played at home and he’s shooting a bunch of 75s and 76s and he’s like ‘Alright, I’m gonna give Augusta a try this year.’ That’s not really gonna be him, at least from my understanding, what I know of him. He knows that there’s a pretty good chance that that was