Tiger Woods: I don’t know if I can be on the same level anymore

• Golf

Tiger Woods is waiting for an important tournament after his return, which is the PGA tour, and expectations are high. "There was a huge lull, Monday [smiling] that was it," Tiger Woods said on his post-Masters rehabilitation for skysports.

"That was it. Monday, it was not fun. It hurt. Ice baths and just trying to get the swelling out of there. Then we went back at it, leg day on Tuesday and we kept going from there. "Figured the first mountain you climbed was Everest.

That's the steepest golf course you're going to play and that was the first one you climbed. It's going to get flatter and better. But still, I still have tough days, and things aren't going to be as easy as people might think.

"I feel like I'm doing better. I'm having more days which are better, more positive. Able to practice a little bit longer. I'm able to do activities and things that I was hoping to do, and I'm finally able to do them."

Tiger Woods: I'm going to get stronger

Woods is still not completely ready, but he will do his best to show quality.

"There's a lot of hardware in there and there's going to be limitations to what I'm going to be able to do, but I'm going to get stronger," Woods added. "I don't know how much that is or how much range of motion I'll ever get back, but sure is a hell of a lot better than it was 12 months ago.

"I didn't have the endurance [at The Masters] that I wanted. I shouldn't expect it because I didn't earn it. I didn't go out there and I hadn't done the work, but we were able to put in a little bit more work and it's going to get better as time goes on.

As the months pass, it's going to get better." Woods also spoke about the absence of Phil Mickelson "It's always disappointing when the defending champion is not here," Woods said for skysports. "Phil [Mickelson] has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the [PGA] Tour and committed to the legacy of the Tour have pushed back against.

"He's taken some personal time, and we all understand that. I think that some of his views on how the Tour could be run, should be run…been a lot of disagreement there. As we all know, as a professional, we miss him being out here.

I mean, he's a big draw for the game of golf. He's just taking his time and we all wish him the best when he comes back.
"I have not reached out to him. I have not spoken to him. A lot of it has not to do with I think personal issues.

It was our viewpoints of how the Tour should be run and could be run, and what players are playing for and how we are playing for it. I have a completely different stance on it."