Perez clarifies comments, says he wants to see Tiger win again

PGA veteran Pat Perez found himself at the center of controversy this week with comments he made about Tiger Woods on his satellite radio show, saying that Woods "knows he can't beat anybody" and that "if he does not play Augusta, it's over."

The comments were in regards to Woods' back issues that have severely limited his playing ability over the past few years, including this year when he was forced to pull out prior to the second round in Dubai on Feb. 3, and has not played since.

Speaking on his show, Perez made the case that if Tiger is unable to compete at this year's Masters, that his career is likely done. However, in speaking with ESPN Thursday night, Perez clarified his comments and insisted he wants to see Woods playing again.

"It's our radio show,'' Perez said of his show with ESPN's Michael Collins. "We're just two guys talking about the stuff we always talk about. I had an opinion on Tiger, and I said it. No one wants to see Tiger come back, compete, and win again more than me. I was the one saying that none of these guys out here today can hold a candle to what Tiger has done or still does. But we're talking about when is Tiger gonna play again? I don't know. If the guy can't do a press conference, how's he gonna play golf?

"I'm getting killed by all these people, but I'm a Tiger fan who wants to see him back playing again. I just don't know when that would be. Now I know kind of how Fuzzy Zoeller felt, but I was praising (Woods), and I'm still getting killed by all these people for an opinion I had on our radio show."