Tiger Woods remains in recovery mode and feels physically unprepared to compete on the golf course after undergoing another back surgery in September.

Woods, a bystander in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, attends the unofficial event because he serves as the host.

“I’m not tournament sharp yet,” the 15-time major champion said. “I’m still not there. These are 20 of the best players in the world and I’m not sharp enough to compete against them at this level. So when I’m ready to compete and play at this level, then I will.”

Woods, who turns 49 later this month, previously said that he hoped to be able to play one tournament a month. On Tuesday, he backed off those comments and cited his health situation as the reason he’s still idling as a tournament observer.

“I didn’t think my back was going to go like it did this year. It was quite painful throughout the end of the year, and hence I had another procedure done to it to alleviate the pain I had going down my leg,” Woods said. “So, whether my commitment going forward is once a month, yeah, I could say that all over again, but I truly don’t know. I’m just trying to rehab and still get stronger and better and feel better, really give myself the best chance I can going into next year.”

Woods admitted that he is as competitive as ever in regard to playing tournaments. However, he knows that’s not all that is required anymore.

“The fire still burns to compete,” he said. “The difference is the recovery of the body to do it is not what it used to be.”

Woods played in the tournament at Albany Golf Club last year and finished 18th of 20.

His sixth back surgery was necessary to repair a nerve impingement in his lower back about two months after his last competitive start at The Open.

–Field Level Media