Tiger Woods has announced he will play in the Masters this week “as of right now”.
Over the past week the five-time Augusta champion drew huge crowds for practice rounds with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples as he tried to prove he’s fit enough for 72 holes.
Woods, who has also won both the US Open and The Open three times each, was emotional as he finally marked his return in a highly-anticipated press conference.
He said: “As of right now, I feel like I am going to play.”
It comes despite him sustaining serious injuries from a car crash in February 2021 that nearly resulted in amputation, with his last PGA Tour tournament being the rescheduled 2020 Masters in which he tried to defend his title.
Woods would later go on to say that he couldn’t foresee a return to golf full-time.
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He told Golf Digest in November: “I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.
“I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that.
“I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Asked at the press conference if he believes he can level Jack Nicklaus with a six Masters win, he replied: “I do.
“I can hit it just fine, I’ve got no qualms on what I can do physically from a golfing standpoint. Walking is the hard part.”
More to follow
