Tiger Woods once revealed why he ditched baseball, athletics to play golf

Tiger Woods missed the cut at the Open Championship 2024 at Royal Troon. He carded 79 and 77 to miss the cut by eights shots. He continues to be one of the greatest golfers of his times, but he didn't play golf as his first sport of choice.

Tiger Woods explored several sports in his youth. In an old with Charlie Rose in November 2016, Woods was asked why he opted for golf. He said:

"I have played it basically all my life. I played baseball. I was a pitcher. I ran track and cross country.

"I liked doing those sports, but I didn't love it. I kept coming back to golf. I kept finding myself running the miles in track and getting and especially cross country, getting all that mileage in to get ready to play golf." (17:27-17:50)

Woods turned professional in 1996. Since then, he has won 15 Majors and 82 PGA Tour titles. He's tied in PGA Tour victories with Sam Snead and three behind Jack Nicklaus in Majors. In the interview with Rose, he also said:

"And when I was on the mound throwing I'm thinking okay this (golf) is like number one okay.

"I got to position my shot down the right side the faraway, so this fast ball is going to be outside. My mind kept coming back to golf. And so whatever I was doing it kept coming back to golf." (17:50-18:07)

In an 1999 interview with Atlanta Constitution, Woods said that he desired to be a baseball player like his father but forfeited the dream after tearing his rotator cuff.

When will Tiger Woods play next?

Tiger Woods appeared in only five tournaments this year, including four Majors. With the Majors coming to an end for the 2024 season, fans and golf enthusiasts have been wondering about Woods' next tournament.

Sports Illustrated writer and author of Drive: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods Bob Harig answered the question, tweeting:

"Tiger said he will not play again before the Hero in the Bahamas and then the “fifth major the PNC” "

Tiger Woods won't be seen playing competitive golf up until December this year i.e., more than four months from now.

He will compete in the 2024 Hero World Challenge at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas from December 5 to 8. From December 19 to 22, Woods will play the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Woods has lately been not in a great run of form. In five tournaments, he has made the cut at only the 2024 Masters. He carded his higest score at the iconinc Augusta National Golf Club. He missed the Friday cuts at Valhalla, Pinehurst No.2 and Royal Troon.

Let's take a look at Tiger Woods performances this year:

The Genesis Invitational: Withdrawn, 72-24, 96 (+2)
Masters Tournament: 60, 73-72-82-77, 304 (+16)
PGA Championship: Missed Cut, 72-77, 149 (+7)
U.S. Open: Missed Cut, 74-73, 147 (+7)
The Open: Missed Cut, 79-77, 156 (+14)