Woods last played 17 months earlier, in the pandemic-delayed 2020 Masters
Tiger Woods prepares to tee it up in the Masters on Thursday, gunning for a record-equalling 6th Environment-friendly Coat in what would certainly be one of the most incredible rebirth of a job studded with impressive returns.
Woods last played 17 months earlier, in the pandemic-delayed 2020 Masters.
His reduced appropriate leg is weaved along with the “equipment” of supporting poles and also screws put after he experienced ruining injuries in a February 2021 single-car accident.
Woods invested 3 months in a health center bed, even more time in a mobility device prior to finishing to props, and also currently assumes he can not just stroll the rolling, 7,510-yard Augusta National training course for 4 rounds, yet likewise offer himself an opportunity to match Jack Nicklaus’s document of 6 Masters titles.
” I do,” Woods claimed when asked outright if he assumed he might win.
With years of injury and also returns, Woods has constantly claimed he would not go into an event if he really did not believe he might win.
He won the 2008 United States Open up with a damaged leg and also torn knee tendon. It would certainly be greater than a years, and also 5 back surgical procedures later on, prior to he won his following significant title at the 2019 Masters, taking his occupation tally to 15.
” You understand, 72 openings is a lengthy roadway, and also it’s mosting likely to be a challenging obstacle and also an obstacle that I’m up for,” Woods claimed.
” I do not need to stress over round striking or the video game of golf, it’s really simply capitals out below. That’s mosting likely to be the obstacle, it’s mosting likely to be the obstacle of a significant marathon.”
Safeguarding champ Hideki Matsuyama remains in a race for physical fitness. Rory McIlroy is still chasing after the Masters title that would certainly finish his occupation Conquest.
Scottie Scheffler comes to the initial significant of the year as a freshly produced globe No. 1. Yet Spain’s second-ranked Jon Rahm is among 5 gamers that might fall Scheffler from his perch.
The others are British Open champ Collin Morikawa, United States PGA FedEx Mug champ Patrick Cantlay, increasing Norwegian celebrity Viktor Hovland and also Aussie Cameron Smith– that fired 4 rounds in the 60s in 2020 in a runner-up coating to Dustin Johnson at Augusta.
The challengers have actually been welcomed this year by substantial adjustments to a number of openings at the legendary Georgia training course.
Yet every tale fades in contrast to that of Woods and also his proposal to insurance claim an additional Masters title, 25 years after his initial in 1997 introduced a brand-new period in golf.
From the minute Woods played a method round at Augusta National recently, supposition has actually been widespread.
Followers and also experts have actually inspected his every relocation: his swing, his behavior, his stride, also his footwear– which are not those of veteran enroller Nike yet of competing brand name FootJoy, which Woods claimed offer the assistance he currently calls for.
Nike, he fasted to include, is functioning to develop an item that will certainly match his brand-new demands.
Woods’s tweet on Sunday that it would certainly be a “game-time choice” regarding whether he played just offered to terminate up followers.
Those fortunate adequate to have practice-round tickets have actually crowded to enjoy him.
” It was excellent to really feel the power once again,” Woods claimed.
” Truly awesome,” Woods’s close friend Justin Thomas claimed of the significant groups that followed their method round.
” I believe something like that is mosting likely to simply aid him make it through the week and also having the ability to feed off that power, utilize the adrenaline. It’s most definitely mosting likely to be handy.”
Woods’s last prep work on Wednesday might be influenced by the tornados that rolled in on Tuesday.
Yet the projection for the competition days is greatly great, and also the meticulously preserved Augusta National training course will certainly no question offer a best phase for whatever Woods dramatization unravels.
” I believe the truth that I had the ability to obtain myself below to this factor is a success,” Woods claimed. “Currently every little thing is concentrated on just how do I obtain myself right into the placement where I get on that back 9 on Sunday with an opportunity.”
