The 49-year-old had disc replacement surgery in October but has only just been cleared to start chipping and putting.

He hopes to be able to play in the latter stages of the TGL, the indoor simulator made-for-television event, which finishes in early March, but has not yet considered when his outdoor season will begin.

Woods turns 50 at the end of the month, meaning he qualifies for the PGA Tour Champions season, but the 15-time major winner has not made any commitments on that front yet.

"It's not as fast as I'd like it to be. It was a good thing to do, something I needed to happen; it just takes time and dedication to the rehab process," said Woods of his recovery.

"Unfortunately, I've been through this rehab process before, and it's step-by-step. Once I get a feel for the recovery process, I can decide where and when to play.

"Let me get back to playing again, let me do that, and I'll figure out the schedule. I was cleared to chip and putt last week.

"It's been six weeks [since the operation], and it's been slow.

"You can't really do much with a disc replacement, now we have the OK to start cranking it up in the gym and start strengthening."

Asked why - at his age with his injury history - he wanted to make yet another comeback, Woods, who is tournament host for this week's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, added: "My passion to just play, I haven't done that in a long time, and it's been a tough year.

"I've had to sit on the sidelines for a number of months of this year and the end of last year. I'd like to come back to just playing golf again."

Woods has not played in a tournament since the 2024 Open at Royal Troon, and during his lengthy spell on the sidelines, he has taken a greater role in shaping the future of the game, becoming chairman of the PGA Tour Future Competition Committee.