Tiger Woods remains resolute in his desire to compete, despite ongoing injury challenges that have kept him out of action since July 2024. The 15-time major champion, now 48, is focused on recovery and a potential comeback as he eyes 2025 with cautious optimism.

Woods revealed that his latest setback, a series of back issues radiating pain into his legs, required a sixth back surgery in September. Reflecting on his struggles, he said:

“I didn’t think my back was going to go like it did this year. It was quite painful… hence I had another procedure done to alleviate the pain.”

Despite the challenges, Woods remains committed:

“I’m getting stronger and more pliable, but I’ve got a long way to go to compete against these guys.”

While he feels improvement, Woods admits he’s not yet at the level required to return to competitive golf.

Acknowledging the physical toll his career and injuries have taken, Woods remains motivated:

“The fire still burns to compete. The difference is the recovery of the body to do it is not what it used to be.”

His last appearance at The Open ended in disappointment, marking his third consecutive missed cut in a major.

Woods also weighed in on the ongoing discussion about compensating Ryder Cup players. Historically, players have not been paid for their participation in the prestigious event. However, recent suggestions propose a fee for team members, with Woods advocating for a significant $5 million allocation per player.

Noting his views from past discussions, Woods said:

“We didn’t want to get paid. We wanted to give more money to charity, but the media turned it around… The Ryder Cup makes so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities?”

He emphasized his support for players donating potential earnings to charitable causes, calling it a “great” initiative.

McLaren has formally called for an investigation into the penalty handed to Lando Norris during the Qatar Grand Prix, a decision that has intensified scrutiny of the FIA’s decision-making processes.

The British driver received a 10-second stop-and-go penalty—the harshest available short of disqualification—for allegedly ignoring yellow flags. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella criticized the ruling, describing it as disproportionate and lacking nuance.

The penalty cost Norris a potential second-place finish, dropping him to 10th and impacting McLaren’s constructors’ championship prospects. The team’s lead over Ferrari was reduced to 21 points ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi, where 44 points remain up for grabs.

Stella expressed frustration over the application of the penalty, suggesting a reliance on outdated procedures:

“It feels like someone dusted off an old rulebook and applied it without context. This decision lacked rationality and proportionality.”

His comments reflect broader dissatisfaction within the paddock about the FIA’s recent leadership changes and decision-making.

The controversy comes during a period of upheaval for the FIA. The governing body recently replaced race director Niels Wittich, appointing Rui Marques for the Las Vegas Grand Prix just one race before Qatar. Wittich’s dismissal remains unexplained, and the decision has raised questions about consistency and stability within the organization.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff joined Stella in questioning the FIA’s approach:

“Rationality needs to prevail. At the moment, it doesn’t seem like it is.”

This shared criticism highlights growing concerns among teams about transparency and fairness in FIA rulings.

McLaren is pushing for a review of the penalty decision, which could influence how race regulations are enforced in the future. Meanwhile, the FIA faces mounting pressure to provide clarity on its recent personnel changes and improve its governance to restore confidence in its leadership.

Chelsea continued their dominant run in the Europa Conference League, edging closer to the knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Heidenheim in Germany. The win keeps Enzo Maresca’s side at the top of the 36-team table with a flawless four-game streak in the group phase.

Christopher Nkunku, in scintillating form this season, opened the scoring with his fifth goal in the competition. The French forward expertly controlled Jadon Sancho’s pass before delivering a clinical finish. Nkunku, who played in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig before joining Chelsea, now has 11 goals across all competitions this season.

The match saw Chelsea’s defense tested by a spirited Heidenheim side, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen delivering a standout performance. Jorgensen made crucial saves, including a brilliant one-handed stop to deny 18-year-old Paul Wanner in the first half. He also thwarted efforts from Leo Scienza and Wanner again after Chelsea took the lead.

Mykhailo Mudryk sealed the victory in the 86th minute, curling a superb strike into the top corner. However, the game ended on a slightly sour note for Chelsea, as midfielder Cesare Casadei was sent off in injury time after receiving a second yellow card.

Heidenheim, known for their remarkable rise through the German football leagues, posed Chelsea’s toughest challenge so far in the group stage. Despite their resilience, the Bundesliga club couldn’t overcome the visitors’ quality.

A contentious moment occurred in the first half when Chelsea thought they had won a penalty after Mudryk went down under a challenge from Patrick Mainka. Following a lengthy VAR review, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk opted against awarding the spot-kick, deeming the contact insufficient.

Chelsea remain the team to beat in the competition, having scored 18 goals across their four group matches.