Tiger Woods arrives at Augusta National
Tiger Woods flew to Augusta Nationwide on Tuesday, sparking even better hypothesis the Masters subsequent week might be his first time competing in opposition to one of the best since a automotive crash 14 months in the past severely injured his proper leg.
Varied plane-tracking web sites confirmed a Gulfstream registered to Woods leaving South Florida at about 9 a.m., and the twitter deal with “Eureka Earth” showed the private jet on the runway at Augusta’s regional airport.
SI.com’s “Morning Read” cited a supply as saying Woods was at Augusta Nationwide with 12-year-old son Charlie. Woods’ agent at Excel Sports activities didn’t instantly reply to a voicemail from The Related Press searching for remark.
Woods has not stated something publicly and even walked in a means that recommended he can be able to play his first main — and first PGA Tour occasion — because the Masters in November 2020.
Hypothesis started to choose up when Phil Mickelson was faraway from the record of gamers who plan to compete within the Masters, which begins April 7. Woods was nonetheless on the energetic invited gamers record, and when requested every week in the past for steering on a call, his agent stated it was too early.
In contrast to common tournaments, gamers haven’t got a dedication deadline. Woods is a five-time Masters champion who can play yearly. It is as much as him to inform Augusta Nationwide whether or not he’ll play, and that may occur all the best way up till the beginning of the match.
Woods was seen taking part in at The Medalist close to his residence in Jupiter Island, Florida, over the weekend. He presumably was at Augusta Nationwide to see how his legs might maintain up on one of many hardest walks in golf. The course has elevations on practically each gap.
He performed in December within the PNC Championship along with his son — they completed runner-up — in a 36-hole match in Florida the place Woods was in a position to journey in a cart and the format was a scramble.
“However to have the ability to be out right here and play, name it six rounds of golf, a observe spherical, pro-am, 4 aggressive days, it is the cumulative impact of all that. I am not in a position to try this but. I am nonetheless engaged on attending to that time,” Woods stated six weeks in the past at Riviera, the place he was host of the Genesis Invitational.
Throughout an interview on CBS Sports activities that weekend, Woods gave no timetable on a return and stated he would not need to present up simply to play.
“I must really feel that I am assured that I can beat these guys, and I bought to do the legwork at residence. It is on me,” he stated.
Woods has been seen shifting nicely however slowly in his few public appearances, akin to at Riviera or three weeks in the past when he was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame.
His final Masters victory, in 2019, adopted 4 surgical procedures on his decrease again and was among the many most exceptional comebacks in sports activities. Later within the 12 months, he gained the Zozo Championship in Japan for his 82nd profession PGA Tour title, tying Sam Snead for the all-time document.
He performed solely 9 occasions in the course of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. After which Feb. 23, whereas recovering from a fifth again surgical procedure, he drove his SUV over a median and it tumbled down a hillside within the coastal suburbs of Los Angeles.
Docs stated he shattered tibia and fibula bones in his proper leg in a number of areas. These have been stabilized by a rod within the tibia. A mixture of screws and pins have been used to stabilize further accidents within the ankle and foot.
Woods has stated amputation was mentioned at one level.
Whether or not he chooses to play at Augusta Nationwide doesn’t have an effect on the sphere. The Masters is an invitational and doesn’t have an alternate record.
