Tiger ‘progressing nicely’ in comeback bid

FILE — Tiger Woods. AP

Tiger Woods tweeted a photo of himself Wednesday at an indoor swing practice session, saying he is “progressing nicely” but giving no clue when he might return to competition.

The 14-time major champion was shown hitting golf balls into a giant video screen, a sign that his recovery from a third back surgery is advancing.

Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent, on Monday refuted Twitter reports that the 40-year-old star feels pain when he sits and does not move well, calling the claims “absolutely false.”

“Tiger continues to work on his rehabilitation and we will have an accurate update at the appropriate time,” Steinberg said.

Woods has not played a US PGA Tour event since last August, when he tied for 10th at the Wyndham Championship.

Woods had microdiscectomy surgery on March 31 of 2014 to treat a herniated disk. He underwent a second procedure on September 16, 2015 to deal with a disk fragment that was pinching a nerve, and six weeks later underwent another procedure to address continuing discomfort.

During the World Challenge tournament he hosted in December, Woods said that there was no timetable for his return, telling reporters: “Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I don’t know.”

Woods, who has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open, is chasing the record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus. Woods has won 79 PGA Tour titles, three off the career record held by Sam Snead. The most recent victory for Woods came at the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.