Tiger Woods will take part in a practice round at Augusta, raising hopes of an unlikely Masters return. The golfing legend has not played in an official competitive event in 18 months - the 2020 edition of the same event, staged in that November due to coronavirus.
The 46-year-old, who last won the major in 2019, is set to tee it up in Georgia after his private jet landed today at approximately 9.45am local time. Sources previously revealed that Woods was planning a journey to Augusta National after he was spotted walking to Medalist Golf Club in a bid to step up his preparations.
When rumours initially surfaced, there was a feeling that Woods may be taking part in the tournament, but his appearance merely for practice is a positive sign. Woods suffered open fractures to his lower right leg and further injuries to his foot and ankle following a car crash last year, which then saw him go through extensive rehabilitation to get back to full fitness.
At February’s Genesis Invitational Woods made an appearance as tournament host exactly one year on from his life-changing accident, and speaking then refused to rule out his chances of taking to the famous Augusta course in April. When asked if he would compete he said: “I don't know."
He did confirm though that, playing or not, he would still be attending the annual tournament dinner two days before the event kicks off. Woods continued: “I'll be there Tuesday and it will be a great dinner - I don't know what kind of sushi we are going to have!"
Off the course, Woods was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame earlier this month. His daughter Sam had the honour of presenting her father with his prize, recognising his stellar career that has seen him widely recognised as golf’s greatest ever player.
Woods - who has won 82 PGA Tour titles and 15 major championships, paid tribute to his family for their role in him becoming a professional golfer. He said: “Thank you. Crap, I just lost a bet to Stricker that I wouldn't cry. Thank you, Sam.
“All the inductees, all the people who - all the past Hall of Famers who are here, players, the World Golf Hall of Fame committee, thank you for inducting me and passing me in here. Without the sacrifices of Mom who took me to all those junior golf tournaments, and Dad, who's not here.
“But who instilled in me this work ethic to fight for what I believe in, chase after my dreams, nothing's ever going to be given to you, everything's going to be earned," he added. "If you don't go out there and put in the work, you don't go out and put in the effort, one, you're not going to get the results, but two, and more importantly, you don't deserve it. You need to earn it.”
