Five-time champion Tiger Woods is planning to play on this week’s Masters simply 14 months after struggling life-threatening accidents in a automobile crash.
Woods will play 9 holes on Wednesday earlier than confirming the choice.
But in a information convention at Augusta National on Tuesday the American stated “as of proper now, I’m going to play”.
When requested if he thought he may equal Jack Nicklaus’ report of six victories he replied: “I do. I do not present up to an occasion until I feel I can win it.”
While conceding that if he by no means performed once more he can be content material together with his haul of 15 main titles – three behind Nicklaus’ all-time report – and joint-record 82 PGA Tour titles, Woods stated he nonetheless has the need to compete.
“I really feel like I can nonetheless do it,” he stated. “I nonetheless have the palms to do it, the physique is shifting ok. I’ve been in worse conditions and received tournaments.
“I really feel like if I can nonetheless compete at the very best degree I’m going to, but when I really feel like I am unable to, you will not see me out right here.
“The incontrovertible fact that I used to be ready to get myself right here at this level was successful and now that I’m enjoying, every part is targeted on getting in that place on the again 9 on Sunday with an opportunity like I did a number of years in the past.”
He stunned many when he introduced final week that he hoped to compete at the primary males’s main of 2022.
Woods’ final skilled event was the rescheduled Masters in November 2020, when he was defending champion, having received his fifth title in 2019 – greater than a decade after profitable his 14th main.
But three months later he flipped his automobile whereas driving at shut to double the 45mph pace restrict close to Los Angeles. Woods has stated he may have died within the crash, with the necessity to have a leg amputated one other worry at the time. He spent a number of months in hospital.
He returned to play in an exhibition event together with his son Charlie in December however used a buggy to get across the course.
And in February, Woods made it clear that he thought the hilly terrain at Augusta National would come too quickly in his restoration.
However, he performed 27 holes final week, 9 on Sunday after which 9 extra on Monday within the firm of excellent buddies Justin Thomas and 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples.
More to observe.
