Golf Channel analysts worry about Tiger Woods’ health

NORTON, Mass. — David Feherty is a longtime Tiger Woods booster who would enjoy nothing more in the game of golf than for a healthy 14-time major champion to return to competition.

But with Tiger apparently on the comeback trail once again — as indicated by last week’s “Dr. gave me the OK to start pitching” video (one that escaped Feherty’s notice) — the NBC/Golf Channel commentator is more concerned with Woods’ well-being than whether the former world No. 1 ever makes it back to the winner’s circle.

“I worry about his quality of life. He’s had four back surgeries, and I just don’t want to see him hurt himself anymore,” Feherty told SB Nation ahead of his Dell Technologies Championship broadcasting assignment on Saturday at TPC Boston. “It’s not like he has anything to prove, but he just loves to compete. He adores the game. He obviously does; otherwise he wouldn’t put himself through this.”

“This,” of course, refers to yet another rehab grind on the part of Woods, who last teed it up in February in the Middle East, where back pain forced him to withdraw from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after scoring a first-round 77.

Since then, Tiger was arrested in May for driving under the influence of a cocktail of painkillers, pleaded not guilty and said he would enter a diversion program, and disappeared from public view until he surfaced last month on Twitter holding a lobster he caught in the Bahamas:

… and celebrating Justin Thomas’ PGA Championship victory:

And then came the video that reminded some Woods watchers of his “progressing nicely” update from a year-and-a-half ago and that sent Twitter into its usual Tiger tizzy:

Should Woods return to the PGA Tour and stay for a while, Feherty believes he could win not only a regular-season event but another major.

“Absolutely,” said Feherty about Tiger’s chances of notching victory No. 80 or even a 15th major title, though he added the necessary caveat — “if he makes it all the way back.”

Woods has another fan in a guy who has been up close and personal for more than one of the 41-year-old’s stellar moments. Phil Mickelson’s former caddie and current Feherty colleague, Jim “Bones” Mackay, recalled Woods’ 2001 Masters win, his fourth major victory in a row that completed what became known as the Tiger Slam.

“I just remember little things, like him having a par putt on the ninth hole at Augusta that Sunday, when he won his fourth major and he got hit by a gust of wind,” Mackay told us, “and he never backed off the putt.

“He never came out of his stance. He just stood there and waited for the wind to pass and made this very slick, downhill five-footer and I thought to myself, ‘Nobody else can do that.’”

Mackay said he was “grateful” to have witnessed Woods’ artistry and hoped he would have the chance to do so again — although this time it would likely be as an on-course reporter for NBC/Golf Channel rather than as an opponent.

“Like a lot of people, I’m rooting for him,” said Mackay. “He’s not only a friend, but he’s done a lot for everybody out here. Certainly for me, caddying for over 20 years out here, he’s a great guy.

“He did a lot for a lot of people, and if anybody deserves to come back and have a great wrap-up to his career, it would be Tiger.”