Tiger Woods: Size matters — and differs — when picking the right ball

SHARE Tiger Woods: Size matters — and differs — when picking the right ball
tiger_returns_golf_72777929.jpg

Woods returns this week to the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. It’s the 10th time he has returned after a layoff of 10 week or longer. | Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Tiger Woods weighed in on the rolling-back-the-ball debate in an interview with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Morning Drive Tuesday.

Woods, who will make his first competitive start since February on Thursday, said he doesn’t see a problem with professional golf emulating how baseball has different ball sizes for the different levels of playing.

“My idea was to have it so that every professional would have to play a reduced-flight ball,” continued Woods, who signed a multi-year contract in 2016 with Bridgestone to play with its balls. “Even if you played a pro-member you would have a reduced-flight ball for the pro, and have to play with that type of ball, where as the amateur, go ahead and make it fun, juice the golf balls up, juice the clubs up and let them go have a great time.”

Woods also said clubs could be looked at as a factor, but he thinks ultimately the ball is the real issue.

“I think equipment could be looked at, but I don’t see any reason why it should, cause if you reduce the ball enough, who cares what the driver is doing,” Woods said.

Woods will be paired with Justin Thomas in the first round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Thursday. Their tee time is set for 11:05 a.m.

Woods previously played the course on Sunday and said he was pain free. According to Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, Woods used a cart and played in 2 hours, 10 minutes and “looked relaxed and fit.”

Woods, meanwhile, admitted this week that he thought his golf career might be over.

“I don’t know if retirement was the word,” the 41-year-old said, “but I didn’t think I could play golf with my friends again.”

Follow me on Twitter: @madkenney

The Latest
He launched a campaign against a proposed neo-Nazis march at a time the suburb was home to many Holocaust survivors. His rabbi at Skokie Central Congregation urged Jews to ignore the Nazis. “I jumped up and said, ‘No, Rabbi. We will not stay home and close the windows.’ ”
That the Bears can just diesel their way in, Bronko Nagurski-style, and attempt to set a sweeping agenda for the future of one of the world’s most iconic water frontages is more than a bit troubling.
Only two days after an embarrassing loss to lowly Washington, the Bulls put on a defensive clinic against Indiana.
One woman suffered a gunshot wound to the neck. In each incident, the four to five men armed with rifles, handguns and knives, approached victims on the street in Logan Square, Portage Park, Avondale, Hermosa threatened or struck them before taking their belongings, police said.