Tiger Woods often is criticized for rarely saying anything of substance. But if you want to talk golf equipment, the 15-time Major champion is your guy. Remember persimmon woods?. They seem like ancient history, Woods his early days on the PGA Tour (circa 1996), however, remembers when some of his more famous competitors still teed it up with persimmon drivers, which were more than twice as small as today’s 440-460cc metal drivers.
“You got exposed hitting persimmon and balata balls if you didn’t flush it,’’ Woods said on the latest drop of Bridgestone Golf’s “Another Podcast.’’ “Fred (Couples) and I had this conversation. You say you hit it ‘on the screws.’ (with a persimmon driver). If you look at the screws on a persimmon driver, that’s not in the middle of the face. That means you missed it – if you look at it. – you hit between the screws.’’
Tiger Woods and Couplesby the way, each play Bridgestone balls.
Woods, along with Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth on Dec. 10 will compete in the made for TV The Match from Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, FL. It will be Woods’ first competition since he revealed he was suffering from plantar fasciitis, which forced him to withdraw from last week’s Hero World Challenge. That injury comes on top of serious injuries he suffered to his right leg in a February 2021 car wreck.
“Call me ‘Ranger Rick,’’’ Woods said on the podcast. “I can hit on the range with anybody. I’m a great cart golfer. I’m not so good at the walking part.’’
Plantar fasciitis, Woods said, “is a real pain in the butt.’’
“That takes a long time to heal… countless stretching. I sleep in a boot to make sure it’s on “stretch’ all the time. It was amazing at the Hero World Challenge. Virtually every caddie came up to me and said he had this bout at one time or another, obviously from carrying a golf bag.’’
Woods, of course, won’t be carrying his bag at The Match, nor will he accept a ride. He will, however, have his foot taped for support.
“But I still have to do all the rehab and the therapies and stretching,’’ he said. “All the mundane stuff that people don’t see. I feel like a two-year-old. Bit you have to it.’’
Photo Courtesy of Bridgestone Golf