Tiger Woods is set to make his official return to the PGA Tour this weekend at The Memorial Tournament, and admitted his instinct when golf returned was to "stay at home and be safe", and see how early events panned out, given the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 44-year old professional weighed up the safety elements of playing competitive sport again, given the possibility of contagion, and said: "That's the risk that I'm taking, that's the risk all of us are taking.
"The tour's done a fantastic job of setting up the safety and trying to make sure all of us are protected, are safe" said Woods. "But it is a risk we are now undertaking - going outside your property and being around individuals who you don't know where they've been or what they've been doing. We've had to make adjustments but it's a risk that I'm willing to take."
Woods also is familiar with large gatherings at every stop he makes on the tour, obviously with no fans this weekend he says it will have a very different feel on the course.
"I'm used to playing with lots of people around me and having lots of people having a direct line to me. That puts not only myself in danger but my friends and family" said Woods. "I feel I'm comfortable enough to come out and play again and I'm excited to do it."
Photo Courtesy Of Getty Images