Tiger Woods might be back on the competitive green soon. The legendary golfer floated the idea that he might return to play in Augusta next week.
Woods took to Twitter on Sunday to announce that he is going to Augusta “to continue my preparation and practice.” He also stated that “it will be a game-time decision” on whether he’ll put his golf spikes on.
I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice. It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete. Congratulations to 16-year-old Anna Davis on an amazing win at the @anwagolf and good luck to all the kids in the @DriveChipPutt.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 3, 2022
“I will be heading up to Augusta [Sunday] to continue my preparation and practice. It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete,” Woods posted to Twitter.
Will The Augusta Master Return?
Woods returning to the Masters would be the biggest news in the golf world. He has won 15 majors, only second all-time to Jack Nicklaus’ 18, including winning the Masters five times.
With Woods’s first major win coming at Augusta in 1997 as a 21-year-old, he entered the final round with a nine-shot lead and lapped the field, beating runner-up Tom Kite by 12 strokes.
A return would rest the notion that Woods is forever incapable of playing the game again after a horrific single-car wreck in February 2021. Woods’ last official event was in November 2020 at the Masters, which was delayed due to COVID-19.
A Hall Of Fame Career
A return would cap off Woods’ recent induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame last month. Since he made his professional debut in 1996, Woods has been the face of golf, with all the pressure inherently baked within that expectation.
Now possibly re-entering Augusta National for the 24th time in his remarkable career, the main concern is whether his surgery-riddled body, post-accident, can handle the rigors of the biggest stage in the sport. Woods has had almost half a dozen surgeries on his back and suffered a serious injury to his right leg and right foot on February 23, 2021, from the car wreck near Los Angeles.
Through multiple surgeries, Woods almost lost his leg.
Always An Option
However, early indications are that Woods is taking a serious look at competing. He and his son Charlie practiced at Augusta National earlier this week.
But signs were earlier.
At the end of 2021, Woods was at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, playing event host, but videos from the driving range showed a still-proficient swing.
Then Woods played the PNC Championship with his son and nearly won the tournament in December.
Changed The Game
The intensity that Tiger has brought to golf changed the game, and his anti-country club mentality still drives him to this day.
“I made practicing so difficult, hurt so much, because I wanted to make sure that I was ready come game time,” Tiger said in his Hall of Fame speech. “I hit thousands of balls, hands bleeding, aching, just so that I could play in a tournament.”
Game-Time Decision
However, his daughter Sam drove home how lucky Woods is to even be walking at this point.
“We didn’t know if you’d come home with two legs or not,” Sam said. “Now, not only are you about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing on your own two feet. This is why you deserve this, because you’re a fighter.”
Will Tiger Woods play in the 86th Masters? It’s a game-time decision, but the expectation has already set the table for a tournament to look forward to.
