Tiger Woods sitting out at Congressional: 'It's tough'
-- After two back surgeries last fall, Tiger Woods can now do much of what he wants to do off the course, but that doesn't mean he's ready to play competitive golf.
Woods, 40, will be on the sideline for the Quicken Loans National at Congressional starting Thursday, not playing in the tournament that benefits his Tiger Woods Foundation.
"I wish I could be here to play, to get out here, get it going again," Woods said at a Wednesday news conference. "I just miss playing.
"It's not fun. It's tough. This tournament is near and dear to my heart."
Woods said he can now play with his kids, ride bikes, do many of the things that create a solid quality of life off the course. He said he is playing regularly and feels leaner. He said the pain is going down, but that he's still sore.
"It's about trying to recover for the next day," he said. "I guess I still need to get in golf shape."
Woods said he has played 18 holes on consecutive days, but he wants to be able to play 18 holes and still spend hours on the range, playing 36 holes four or five days in a row. Then he'd still have to take it up a notch to compete.
"I know we're playing for a little bit of cash at home, but it's not the same as being out here playing with these guys," Woods said.
Woods did not rule out playing in any upcoming tournaments, including The Open at Royal Troon in three weeks, but he didn't commit to any either.
Woods weighed in on a couple of other topics Wednesday.