“I’m not tournament sharp yet,” Woods said Tuesday at his pre-tournament news conference. “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.” If that sounds regurgitated, it’s because it is.

After having another back surgery in September, Tiger Woods is not among the 20-man field at the Hero World Challenge this week. But instead of injecting optimism into the golf world about his playing prospects in the future and saying that he can win again,