Tiger Woods talks return to golf date, Jack Nicklaus' majors record

Tiger Woods, appearing on Thursday night's "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," vows to make his return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge in December.

Just last week Woods said his game was not in strong enough shape when he withdrew from the Safeway Open (Oct. 13-16) and the Turkish Airlines Open (Nov. 3-6).

Now Woods intends to return for his first tournament start in nearly 16 months at his foundation's event at the Hero World Challenge Dec. 1-4 in the Bahamas

"I'll be there," Woods told Colbert of the 18-player event. "I'm playing."

Colbert asked Woods how his game was coming along.

"I'm not quite there, where I feel like I can shoot 63s and 64s in tournaments," Woods said. "I'm shooting the low rounds at home. But I just don't quite feel as quite ready to shoot those type scores under tournament conditions."

The 40-year-old Woods had two surgeries to his back in the fall of 2015, bringing his total to three.

The 14-time major winner and 79-time PGA Tour winner is currently 802nd in the world. Woods last competed at the August 2015 Wyndham Championship, where he tied for 10th.

Woods, in another interview taped Wednesday for "Charlie Rose: This Week on PBS," said he was "hoping to return in December."

Woods was asked by Rose whether he still thinks he will get to 18 majors to equal Jack Nicklaus' record.

"To be honest with you, no," Woods told Rose.

When Rose asked if he had accepted that, Woods laughed and said: "I've accepted I'm going to get more."

Woods served as a vice captain for the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team earlier this month at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. In addition, U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker named Woods as a captain's assistant for the 2017 Presidents Cup.