Woods says neck is feeling good, no plans to add coach

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Tiger Woods is a four-time champion at the Memorial Tournament.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Tiger Woods, returning to the PGA TOUR for the first time since withdrawing during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship with a neck injury, said Wednesday that his neck "feels pretty good" but added that it's "still not where I want it be."

Woods also said that he has no plans at this time to find a new coach to replace Hank Haney, who resigned the week after THE PLAYERS. Woods will instead rely in video to evaluate his swing.

"That's the great thing about technology," Woods said. "We can use video. That's what I've been doing and been working on it that way."

Woods, the defending champion of the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley, said the inflammation in his neck has subsided and that he has full range of motion in his neck. But he said he still experiences pain after practice sessions and that he continues to receive treatment while undergoing strengthening exercises.

"It's a little bit sore after a good hard day of practice," Woods said, "but I can recover for the next day, which is good."

Woods withdrew while playing the seventh hole in the final round of THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass. He then went 1-1/2 weeks without picking up a club after he was advised to rest his neck. Since then, he's gradually increased his practice sessions, recently playing 54 holes in one day at his home in Isleworth.

Asked how he played, Woods joked, "I hit every shot forward. It was great."

With the Memorial his last start prior to the U.S. Open in two weeks, Woods is hopeful that he can round into form prior to Pebble Beach. He's currently ranked No. 1 in the world ranking, but could lose that distinction to Phil Mickelson this week depending on how they each finish at Muirfield Village.

"It would be nice to get four rounds in and be in contention and hopefully win this thing," Woods said. "That's kind of where I'd like to be. I'd like to see where my game is at going into the Open and I should get a full tournament in, which I haven't had since the Masters."