Tiger Woods gag sinks without trace | CNN

Tiger Woods: Golfer’s gag sinks without trace at press conference

By Tom Sweetman, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 6:56 PM EDT, Wed August 12, 2015
Tiger Woods says he is planning to return to action in October after missing over a year of competitive action. The 40-year-old has undergone multiple back surgeries over past year and has not competed since August 2015.
Tiger Woods says he is planning to return to action in October after missing over a year of competitive action. The 40-year-old has undergone multiple back surgeries over past year and has not competed since August 2015.
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The 14-time major winner has a long history of injury problems. Here he has cream rubbed onto his back by caddy Steve Williams during the 2004 American Express Championship.
The 14-time major winner has a long history of injury problems. Here he has cream rubbed onto his back by caddy Steve Williams during the 2004 American Express Championship.
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Woods won the the U.S. Open in 2008 -- his last major victory to date. He missed tournament in July 2011, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2011%2FSPORT%2Fgolf%2F06%2F07%2Fgolf.tiger.usopen.injury%2Findex.html">citing knee and Achilles tendon injuries</a>.
Woods won the the U.S. Open in 2008 -- his last major victory to date. He missed tournament in July 2011, citing knee and Achilles tendon injuries.
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In October 2010, Woods appears dejected after losing a match to Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the Ryder Cup teams competition in Wales. Later that month he lost his No. 1 ranking to Westwood, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks. He had taken a break from golf earlier that year after reports of marital infidelities emerged in late 2009.
In October 2010, Woods appears dejected after losing a match to Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the Ryder Cup teams competition in Wales. Later that month he lost his No. 1 ranking to Westwood, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks. He had taken a break from golf earlier that year after reports of marital infidelities emerged in late 2009.
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Woods misses a putt at the Frys.com Open in October 2011. That month, he fell out of golf's top 50 for the first time in almost 15 years. Woods reportedly lost millions in endorsements after sponsors ended their ties with him in the wake of his sex scandal.
Woods misses a putt at the Frys.com Open in October 2011. That month, he fell out of golf's top 50 for the first time in almost 15 years. Woods reportedly lost millions in endorsements after sponsors ended their ties with him in the wake of his sex scandal.
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Despite his problems, Woods remained a key attraction -- being invited to the 2011 Australian Open, where he finished third. That year he was the highest-paid American athlete on <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.topendsports.com%2Fworld%2Flists%2Fearnings%2Ffortunate-50-2011.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list</a>.
Despite his problems, Woods remained a key attraction -- being invited to the 2011 Australian Open, where he finished third. That year he was the highest-paid American athlete on Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list.
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In July 2011, Woods dropped Williams, his caddy of 12 years. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2011%2FSPORT%2Fgolf%2F07%2F20%2Fgolf.woods.caddie.williams%2Findex.html">Woods said</a>.
In July 2011, Woods dropped Williams, his caddy of 12 years. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," Woods said.
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After a nearly three-month break, Woods returned to golf at the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2011.
After a nearly three-month break, Woods returned to golf at the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2011.
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In August 2011, Woods<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2011%2FSPORT%2Fgolf%2F08%2F12%2Fgolf.pga.woods.cut%2Findex.html"> failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship</a> for the first time in his career. He has won the season's closing major on four occasions, most recently in 2007.
In August 2011, Woods failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship for the first time in his career. He has won the season's closing major on four occasions, most recently in 2007.
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In October 2011, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2011%2F10%2F05%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fgolf-tiger-woods-rolex%2Findex.html">Woods landed Rolex as a sponsor </a>despite not having won a major tournament in nearly two years. "Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him," the high-end watchmaker said. The following month he played for the U.S. in the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.
In October 2011, Woods landed Rolex as a sponsor despite not having won a major tournament in nearly two years. "Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him," the high-end watchmaker said. The following month he played for the U.S. in the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.
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In December 2011, Woods earned his first win in two years at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2011%2F12%2F04%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fcalifornia-tiger-woods%2Findex.html">Chevron World Challenge</a>, a charity tournament that he hosts which does not count on the PGA Tour money list.
In December 2011, Woods earned his first win in two years at the Chevron World Challenge, a charity tournament that he hosts which does not count on the PGA Tour money list.
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Woods lines up his putt at the Honda Classic in March 2012. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2012%2F03%2F05%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fgolf-mcilroy-augusta-woods">He shot a 62, his lowest final round as a professional</a>, but he tied for second in the PGA Tour event.
Woods lines up his putt at the Honda Classic in March 2012. He shot a 62, his lowest final round as a professional, but he tied for second in the PGA Tour event.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Woods signs autographs at the<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2012%2F03%2F25%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fgolf-arnold-palmer-tiger%2Findex.html"> Arnold Palmer Invitational</a> in March 2012. His win there marked his first PGA Tour victory since September 2009.
Woods signs autographs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2012. His win there marked his first PGA Tour victory since September 2009.
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Woods drops the ball on the 15th fairway during the final round of the AT&T National in July 2012. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2012%2F07%2F02%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fgolf-woods-congressional-nicklaus%2Findex.html">He overtook Jack Nicklaus</a> for second place on the all-time PGA Tour victory list and now has 79 overall -- three behind Sam Snead's record.
Woods drops the ball on the 15th fairway during the final round of the AT&T National in July 2012. He overtook Jack Nicklaus for second place on the all-time PGA Tour victory list and now has 79 overall -- three behind Sam Snead's record.
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
In 2012, Woods became the first PGA Tour player to earn $100 million when he finished third at the Deutsche Bank Championship, taking home more than $500,000.
In 2012, Woods became the first PGA Tour player to earn $100 million when he finished third at the Deutsche Bank Championship, taking home more than $500,000.
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Woods hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2012%2F07%2F17%2Fnews%2Feconomy%2Ftiger-woods-pay%2Findex.htm">He lost his title the previous year as the world's top-paid athlete</a>, dropping to third place on <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fspecials%2Ffortunate50-2012%2Findex.html">Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list</a>.
Woods hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013. He lost his title the previous year as the world's top-paid athlete, dropping to third place on Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Woods holds the trophy for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013, where he clinched his 75th PGA Tour title.
Woods holds the trophy for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013, where he clinched his 75th PGA Tour title.
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In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarquee.blogs.cnn.com%2F2013%2F03%2F18%2Ftiger-woods-confirms-hes-dating-lindsey-vonn%2F">they were dating on Facebook</a>. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. Woods split up with his wife, Elin Nordegren, in 2010 after admitting a series of infidelities. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following.
In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced they were dating on Facebook. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. Woods split up with his wife, Elin Nordegren, in 2010 after admitting a series of infidelities. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following.
Courtesy Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods
In 2013, Woods regained the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F03%2F25%2Fsport%2Fgolf%2Fgolf-woods-world-number-one-again%2Findex.html">No. 1 spot in world golf rankings</a> with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
In 2013, Woods regained the No. 1 spot in world golf rankings with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
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Woods winces in pain after striking a tree root with his club after a shot from the rough in the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament in April. He tied for 17th place.
Woods winces in pain after striking a tree root with his club after a shot from the rough in the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament in April. He tied for 17th place.
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Woods' best result of an injury-hit 2015 was a tie for 10th at August's Wyndham Championship -- his last appearance this season before having back surgery.
Woods' best result of an injury-hit 2015 was a tie for 10th at August's Wyndham Championship -- his last appearance this season before having back surgery.
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In July 2015, Woods missed the cut at the British Open for just the second time in his illustrious career.
In July 2015, Woods missed the cut at the British Open for just the second time in his illustrious career.
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Woods throws his club in disgust following a shot from the rough during the first round of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June, when he missed the halfway cut after rounds of 80 and 76.
Woods throws his club in disgust following a shot from the rough during the first round of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June, when he missed the halfway cut after rounds of 80 and 76.
Harry How/Getty Images
Tiger Woods: From highs to lows
CNN  — 

He’s gone seven years without winning a major, he’s ranked No. 278 in the world and now Tiger Woods is even struggling to land a joke.

It’s been a season to forget for the American, having missed the cut in consecutive majors for the first time ever at the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

But it was at Whistling Straits this week, as he gears up for the U.S. PGA Championship, that the 39-year-old finally hit rock bottom.

Asked a routine question by a reporter at a press conference ahead of the year’s final major, which gets underway Thursday, Woods attempted to inject some humor into proceedings – only to see his one-liner fall flat.

“Now that you’re getting a lot older, is it fair to say that you have lost a step, or at least half a step?” Woods was asked.

“No, I don’t think so, I can still walk the same pace on the golf course,” he replied, before breaking into a nervous-looking smile.

Cue complete silence.

McIlroy fitness

The 14-time major winner went on to speak about the return to fitness of Rory McIlroy in time for the U.S. PGA Championship – this time keeping the jokes to a minimum.

World No. 1 McIlroy had been sidelined for nearly six weeks after rupturing his ankle ligaments while playing football, but has since insisted he is ready to defend his U.S. PGA title in Wisconsin.

“He has good physios, he’s worked hard,” Woods told reporters when quizzed about McIlroy, who has been at Whistling Straits for several days practicing ahead of his return to action.

“It’s a matter of how long is he going to have to go with it like this or is he going to have to get it surgically repaired.

“And then obviously this is going to be tough. This is going to be a tough golf course. Even the walks, from tee box to fairway, they’re not straight. And it’s just a matter of how can he hold that up.

“I blew out my knee and played for a good nine months before I had it fixed, so it can be done.

“Is he probably going to be in pain? Probably, yeah. Swelling is going to probably occur, but that’s why the physios are there, and I’m sure they’ll get him organized.”

Read: Woods confident he can ‘turn the tide’

Read: McIlroy set to play U.S. PGA Championship

Read: Rickie Fowler’s almost perfect life?