“For now, I feel like I’m going to play. »
Posted at 11:26
Updated at 12:08 p.m.
Unless something unforeseen, Tiger Woods will take part in the Masters Tournament, barely a year after a serious road accident. He will play nine more practice holes on Wednesday before making a final decision, but he expects to be on the first tee on Thursday. At 10.34 a.m. sharp, with Louis Oosthuizen and Joaquin Niemann.
On Sunday, on his Twitter account, Woods spoke of “a last minute decision” as he headed to Georgia to train on the legendary Masters Tournament course. Forty-eight hours later, the doubts seem dispelled.
To the question “Do you think you can win the Masters this week?” “, in a press briefing on Tuesday, he replied:” I think so. »
Record ratings in sight.
“It will be a difficult challenge to overcome,” he acknowledged. But it’s a challenge I’m ready to take on. »
A month and a half ago, Woods said he was unable to determine a date for returning to official competition.
The winner of 15 major titles had returned to the aisles last December, at the PNC Championship, a friendly family tournament in which he took second place – behind the Dalys – with his son Charlie.
From then on, it became clear that Woods had not lost his ability to hit the ball, despite a slightly adapted momentum, by force of circumstance, and some loss of distance.
On the other hand, could he walk the 18 holes of a course for two or even four consecutive days? A doubt fueled by the fact that the golfer himself said he was “very tired” at the end of the PNC Championship… despite having traveled in a cart.
But the 82-time PGA title winner’s love of rehabilitation — tied for the top with Sam Snead — has been documented time and time again. Hence the reluctance of some observers to say that Tiger Woods fans should mourn him.
Woods is 46 years old. The exact age at which Jack Nicklaus donned the green jacket for the 6and times, despite serious hip problems.
Will we see it in red during this 86and Masters Tournament? Nothing is less sure. But that he starts from the first mound this Thursday is already a feat in itself.
The accident
On February 23, 2021, the accident of Tiger Woods had caused a stir. Driving at twice the speed limit – around 140 km/h in an area of just over 70 km/h – he had lost control of his vehicle, in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Victim of multiple open fractures in the right leg, the ankle also seriously affected, amputation had been seriously considered by specialists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“He had a good chance of getting out alive,” said the first policeman to arrive on the scene.
Immobilized for three months, the star golfer will begin his rehabilitation with a metal rod in his leg.
Two years earlier, in 2019, Woods roused the crowd at the Augusta National with a rather unexpected fifth triumph there, 11 years after his previous major title.
Once again this year, and perhaps more than ever, the Masters Tournament will vibrate to the rhythm of Tiger Woods.