Tiger Woods Returns to Augusta Sunday, Calls Himself 'Game-Time Decision' to Play 2022 Masters

Tiger Woods is returning to Augusta with the hope of competing in the Masters this week.

Author:
Bob Harig
Updated:
Apr 3, 2022
Original:
Apr 3, 2022

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Calling it a “game-time decision,’’ Tiger Woods said via Twitter on Sunday that he was headed to Augusta National to prep for the Masters and what would be his first tournament since a horrific car crash more than 13 months ago.

Woods, 46, the five-time Masters winner who captured the tournament in 2019, sent out the news just before 10 a.m. ET. His private plane had been scheduled to leave the Stuart, Florida, airport sometime in the afternoon. By mid-afternoon Sunday, he was on the tournament practice range at Augusta National. After hitting balls for about 20 minutes, he went to the 10th tee and was expected to play nine holes.

The 15-time major champion, who has not competed in an official tournament since he tied for 38th at the 2020 Masters played in November during to the coronavirus pandemic, had not said anything publicly about his participation in what would be his 24th Masters.

But speculation has been heated since he played a practice round on Tuesday at Augusta National with his son, Charlie, and 14-time PGA Tour winner and friend, Justin Thomas.

The crash on Feb. 23, 2021, led to severe injuries for his lower right leg. Woods was driving an SUV on his way to a documentary shoot for one of his endorsers when he crossed through two oncoming lanes, struck a curb and hit a tree on a downhill stretch of road outside of Los Angeles.

Woods had open fractures in the upper and lower portions of the tibia and said later doctors told him amputation was possible.

Hospitalized for weeks, Woods kept a low profile and offered few updates, disclosing later that he was mostly immobile for three months. He was able to play in the PNC Championship with Charlie in December, a 36-hole exhibition in which he rode a cart and said he was nowhere close to being able to return to competitive golf.

He said that again during a Feb. 16 news conference at the Genesis Invitational, where he talked about being able to play “hit and giggle’’ golf but not the kind expected on the PGA Tour.

“My golf activity has been very limited,’’ Woods said. “I can chip and putt really well and hit short irons very well, but I haven’t done any long stuff seriously. I’m still working. I’m still working on the walking part. My foot was a little messed up there about a year ago, so the walking part is something that I’m still working on, working on strength and development in that. It takes time.

“What’s frustrating is it’s not my timetable. I want to be at a certain place, but I’m not. I’ve just got to continue working, yes. But as I said, not at the speed and rate that I would like. You add in the age factor, too. You just don’t quite heal as fast, which is frustrating.’’

Perhaps Woods was underselling the situation or trying to keep expectations low. Or maybe he’s made a swift move through rehabilitation over the several weeks. And the fact that he said he's a “game-time decision" suggests he wants to be sure his body can handle it.

Woods was going to travel to Augusta for the Champions Dinner on Tuesday regardless, so making the trip to try and prepare makes sense. In the past, Woods has often shown up on Sunday to get in some work before the big crowds arrive Monday for official practice rounds. He was expected to be on the course Sunday afternoon. Tuesday’s weather forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of rain, another reason to put in some work on Sunday.

During his practice round on Tuesday, Woods also played in a group with his long-time friend and company employee Rob McNamara. He played all 18 holes before heading back to Florida.

Rory McIlroy, who was at Augusta on Monday and Tuesday, reported that Woods looked good. He told the Golf Channel that he spoke on site with Woods, who was being “very conservative’’ and simply wanted to see how he fared.

McIlroy also disclosed that he visited with Woods several weeks ago and would have thought Woods might play the Masters.

This will be the 24^th time Woods has teed it up in the tournament, including his first two as an amateur. He won the first of his five green jackets in 1997, 25 years ago. In addition to his five victories, Woods has nine other top-5 finishes at the Masters.

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