At the Champions Dinner following the Masters, legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus revealed what Tiger Woods said before making his triumphant return to the Masters.Nicklaus, speaking at the dinner, said Woods told him, “Why in the world would I wait a year to play if I know I’m gonna hurt both years? Why don’t I just get back and start playing and just suck it up?”The quote not only offers a window into Tiger’s mindset to return less than 14 months after the solo car wreck that nearly cost him his right leg.It also revealed that he doesn’t expect to be pain-free by the next Masters in April 2023.After the Masters concluded, our panel of doctors evaluated what is next for the five-time Masters champion and 15-time major champion.Throughout his recovery process, Woods has been upfront about knowing he won’t ever return to a full PGA tour schedule.The doctors at Sports Injury Central were following Woods’ masters performance closely and noted the difficulties he had while walking in rounds 3 and 4.Those are likely the difficulties he will continue to face when/if his right leg ever gets to 100% healthy.It was great to see Woods return to golfing in the public eye, but it clearly took a valiant effort from the 46-year-old. Woods even golfed in FootJoys, a far departure for a man who has been draped in Nike since the start of his career.He has also had five back surgeries, including a spinal fusion, which does not make walking a course and taking repetitive swings for four days in-a-row any easier.With the PGA Championship in mid-May, the U.S. Open in mid-June and the Open Championship in mid-July it remains to be seen when Woods will emerge again at a major tournament.He has committed to play in the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland the week prior to the British Open, hinting that he’s likely planning to play at St. Andrews.Woods finished 47th at the Masters and struggled mightily in the third and fourth rounds. That’s a trend that is likely to continue until he can build his stamina back up.The golfing world would love to see Woods challenge Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories, but it seems it will be an extended chase and time is not on Tiger’s side.