Tiger Woods makes Masters 2022 prediction as he details "hardest part" of tournament

Tiger Woods has announced he will play the Masters this week - he insists he can win a stunning sixth Green Jacket.

The American superstar nearly died in a high-speed car accident in February last year and spent three months in a hospital bed.

But the 46-year-old said in his pre-tournament press conference today: “As of right now, I feel I am going to play. "It is great to be back and to be able to feel the energy and the excitement again. Hopefully we are going to have a great week."

And asked if he can win his 16th Major, Woods declared: I do. I can hit it just fine. I have no qualms what I can do physically from a golf standpoint. Walking is the hard part. 72 holes is a long road. It is a tough challenge and a challenge I am up for."

"I love competing. I feel like if I can still compete at the highest level, I am going to. But if I feel like I can't, you won't see me out there. I won't show up to an event if I don't think I can win it. There will be a day when that won't happen.

“When I decide to hang it up when I can't win anymore, that will be it. I still feel I have the hands to win it. My body is good enough. I haven't been in situations where I have to walk and endure like here - it will be a different challenge. Like the 2008 US Open. Those are times I can draw upon when I was successful.

Tiger Woods is backing himself to win the Masters this year (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“The fact that I was able to get myself here to this point is a success. Now everything is focussed on me getting myself into a position where I have a chance on the back nine on Sunday.”

Woods has revealed he nearly lost his right leg in the car accident and he is going through the pain barrier to play his first PGA Tour event since the 2020 Masters. “Yes there is pain,” he said. “Each and every day. Given what I have gone through with my back and my right leg. There is each and every day.

“I have had to endure pain before. This is different. It is a lot more traumatic what has happened to my leg. I have very limited mobility now with the rods and screws that I have in my leg. My movement will probably not get much better. Will I feel better? Yes.”