Tiger Woods admits that he has "no answer" to when he may return to action. Woods had surgery on his troublesome back in October, and hasn't played in a tournament since August. He has not swung a club since the surgery and said he didn't know when he would do so again.

“Therein lies the tough question and tough answer,” Woods said at a charity event. “I have no answer for that, and neither does my surgeon. There is no timetable so that’s the hardest part for me. There’s really nothing I can look forward to, nothing I can build towards.”

Wood’s surgery involved nerves in his back, and the former world number one said the nature of the operation presented specific problems. “It’s different from the other surgeries I’ve had in the past. For nerves there are really no timetables.”

Woods added that he hadn’t had any rehab on his back and his present activities were limited: “I walk. And I walk some more.”

Woods sounded downbeat when asked whether he would be able to compete in the next year. “There is no timetable for this,” he said. “That has been the hardest mindset adjustment. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I don’t know.”

Woods said he hoped to return to the tour but was philosophical about a career that includes 14 majors. “For my 20 years out here I achieved a lot,” he said. Guardian Service