Woods is planning the key comeback a 12 months after he practically misplaced his proper leg from accidents in a automobile crash.
{Golfing} champion Tiger Woods has stated that he’ll play on this week’s Masters Match and feels he can win the occasion for a sixth time in his highly-anticipated return to competitors, following a automobile crash final 12 months that almost resulted in medical doctors amputating his proper leg.
The five-time champion at Augusta Nationwide made the announcement Tuesday morning. He’ll play 9 extra observe holes on Wednesday on the course in Georgia in america earlier than making a ultimate determination, however stated he could be doing so with the intention of taking part in Thursday.
“As of proper now I really feel like I’m going to play,” Woods stated throughout his pre-tournament information convention.
The choice by the 46-year-old Woods, who is not any stranger to staging exceptional comebacks, comes after he arrived at Augusta Nationwide on Sunday, when he stated he could be a game-time determination for the April 7-10 Masters.
“It’s nice to be again,” Woods stated.
The 15-time main champion has not competed in a Skilled Golfers’ Affiliation of America (PGA) tour because the November 2020 Masters and solid doubt on his skilled {golfing} future after struggling critical leg accidents.
On February 23, 2021 he crashed his SUV over a median on a suburban coastal street in Los Angeles and down the aspect of a hill.
Woods’ accidents from that crash have been so extreme that medical doctors thought-about proper leg amputation, earlier than reassembling the limb by inserting a rod within the tibia and utilizing screws and pins to stabilise extra accidents within the ankle and foot.
“It’s been a troublesome, powerful 12 months … however right here we’re,” Woods stated.
Whereas fellow golfers have stated Woods’s swing is wanting good, the massive query shall be how his surgically reconstructed leg will maintain up on the undulating Augusta Nationwide format, which is among the extra taxing walks on the PGA Tour.
“My private trainers and surgeons all stated I might do that once more. It’s as much as me to endure the ache … I don’t know what number of extra years I can do that,” stated Woods.
Woods is not any stranger to taking part in by means of ache, one thing he famously proved on the 2008 US Open, the place he prevailed in an exhilarating playoff at Torrey Pines whereas competing on what was primarily a damaged leg.
Woods capped probably the most exceptional comebacks in skilled sport when, on the age of 43, he gained the Masters in 2019 after enduring years of surgical procedure and private issues that had satisfied many the perfect golfer of his era was executed.
I shall be heading as much as Augusta at the moment to proceed my preparation and observe. It is going to be a game-time determination on whether or not I compete. Congratulations to 16-year-old Anna Davis on an incredible win on the @anwagolf and good luck to all the youngsters within the @DriveChipPutt.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 3, 2022
“I really like competing,” Woods stated. “I really feel like if I can nonetheless compete on the highest degree, I’m going to. And if I really feel like I can nonetheless win, I’m going to play. But when I really feel like I can’t, then you definately gained’t see me out right here.”
Woods has made 23 profession begins within the Masters, the place he has 14 top-10 finishes and has missed only one lower, as an beginner in 1996.
Solely Jack Nicklaus has gained extra Masters titles (six) and extra majors (18) than Woods.
When requested if he might win the Masters once more this week, Woods was very clear.
“I do,” stated Woods. “I can hit it simply advantageous. I don’t have any qualms about what I can do bodily from a golf standpoint. It’s now, strolling is the laborious half.”