The questions Tiger Woods answered and the questions that still don’t have answers

Tiger Woods offered hope of a return but also a sobering assessment of his situation in his first interviews since a serious car crash in February.

Speaking at his first news conference Tuesday, a day after a lengthy video conversation with Golf Digest was released, Woods expressed gratitude for being alive and not losing parts of his right leg to amputation.

At the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, an event he hosts for his foundation, Woods also spoke alternatively about his desire to come back and play competitive golf and his realization that it is unlikely that his leg or his game can ever be the same.

Here are a few takeaways:

Woods expects to play again

It’s just going to take some time, and he would not say when. But Woods acknowledged it is a long way off. He also seemed eager for the challenge of going through rehab to get to a point where he can compete again — even if it’s limited.

While a full schedule and all the practice required to play at that level is undesirable, being able to pick his spots seems to be an idea he likes.

“To ramp up for a few events a year as Mr. [Ben] Hogan did, he did a pretty good job of it, and there’s no reason that I can’t do that and feel ready,” Woods said Tuesday. “I may not be tournament-sharp in the sense I haven’t played tournaments, but I think if you practice correctly and you do it correctly, that I’ve come off surgeries before, I’ve come off long layoffs and I’ve won or come close to winning before. So I know the recipe for it. I’ve just got to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough where I can do that again.”

The 2018-19 run was big

Coming back from 2017 spinal surgery to win three times, including his 15th major championship at the 2019 Masters, makes this a bit easier to deal with in terms of golf.

Woods said he’s “already climbed” the mountain a few times and doesn’t need to do it again.

“I don’t see that type of trend going forward for me,” he said. “I won’t have the opportunity to practice, given the…