Tiger Woods accepts full-time golf career is over after revealing extent of crash injuries

The 15-time major winner says it was '50/50' if his leg would get amputated after car accident in February

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  The highs: 1997 Masters – Announces himself to the world with record-breaking 12-shot victory at Augusta. Getty

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  2001 Masters – Prevails at Augusta to hold all four majors at once, dubbed the “Tiger Slam”. Getty

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  2008 US Open – Captures 14th major with superb play-off victory against Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. Getty

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  2013 Resurgence – Returns to form after high-profile scandal surrounding his personal life. Won five times, including the Players Championship. Getty

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  2018 Tour Championship – Wins for first time in more than five years, and after fourth back surgery. Getty

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  2019 Masters – Triumphs at Augusta to secure fifth Green Jacket and 15th major crown. Reuters

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  The lows: 2009 PGA Championship – Creates unwanted history by losing his first major when holding the 54-hole lead. AFP

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  Personal scandal – Exemplary public image erodes when found bleeding and semi-conscious after car hits tree and fire hydrant outside Florida home on 2009 Thanksgiving weekend. Getty

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  2014 Honda Classic – Withdraws after 13th hole of final round citing back spasms. Heralds beginning of persistent back problems, leading to four operations in four years. Getty

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  2017 DUI arrest – Arrested on suspicion of DUI in Florida in May after being found asleep at wheel of car with engine running. AFP

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  Rankings low – Battle with injury leads to time away from game and loss of form, prompting a fall to No 1199 in the world by December 2017. Getty

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  2021 car accident – Involved in serious crash in Los Angeles, sustains multiple leg injuries. AFP

Tiger Woods has revealed that he does not expect to return to professional golf full-time and will instead "pick and choose" certain events as he works his way back from career-threatening leg injuries.

The 15-time major winner told Golf Digest in an interview published on Monday that although he is confident of eventually making a return to the sport, he expected he would only play select tournaments from now on.

The 45-year-old former world No 1 suffered compound fractures in his right leg after a car he was driving in a Los Angeles suburb in February veered off the road and flipped several times. Before the accident, Woods was already playing a reduced schedule following multiple surgeries on his back and knee over the years.

He told Golf Digest on Monday that his days as a full-time member of the PGA Tour were now effectively over.

"I think something that is realistic is playing the Tour one day - never full time, ever again - but pick and choose," Woods said. "Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that.

"I think that's how I'm going to have to play it from now on. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it."

Woods generated buzz earlier this month after posting video on Twitter of himself hitting balls, with the caption "Making progress."

Woods, who completed a fairytale return from back fusion surgery to capture his 15th major title at the 2019 Masters, questioned whether he had the same drive to return to the pinnacle of his sport.

"I don't have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life," Woods said. "After my back fusion, I had to climb Mount Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don't think I'll have the body to climb Mount Everest and that's OK.

"I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don't think that's a realistic expectation of me."

Woods meanwhile revealed he had feared that he may have to have his leg amputated in the immediate aftermath of February's accident.

"There was a point in time when, I wouldn't say it was 50/50, but it was damn near there if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg," said Woods, who believes he is less than halfway towards a return to fitness.

"I have so far to go ... I'm not even at the halfway point. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I've had five back operations. So I'm having to deal with that. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up. It's a tough road."

Woods' interview with Golf Digest comes ahead of his first public appearance since his accident at this week's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the 20-man tournament that raises funds for his foundation.