Tiger Woods to make public address ahead of The Masters after long absence
Tiger Woods is in line for a return to action at The Masters and he will speak publicly to the media on Tuesday before the competition gets underway on Thursday (April 11)
Tiger Woods is set to return to action at the Masters next week after he was confirmed on the interview schedule at Augusta National.
The 15-time Grand Slam champion has not finished a PGA Tour event for nearly 14 months and has fallen to world No.950. But the American superstar, now 48, played a practice round at Augusta National at the weekend with his friend Justin Thomas.
Woods will now address the world’s media ahead of the event before he tees up in his 26th Masters with the aim of setting a new record of cuts made in Augusta. Last year he made the cut at Augusta for the 23rd consecutive time to tie the all-time record with Gary Player and Fred Couples before pulling out.
Woods will next week celebrate the fifth anniversary of his remarkable fifth Masters victory in 2019. But he is at his longest-ever odds to win at Augusta and equal Jack Nicklaus’ record of six wins because of his lack of preparation.
Woods has made limited appearances since his February 2021 car crash in Los Angeles which nearly caused his lower right leg to be amputated. He withdrew during the third round in Augusta last year with a foot problem in wet conditions and then pulled out after 24 holes at the Genesis Invitational in February because of flu.
His friend Notah Begay reported this week that Woods can hit a golf ball but struggles to walk because of his ankle.
“For the past couple months, he’s been trying to find a way to recover,” said Begay. “He can play the golf. We always knew the question was going to be ‘Can he walk the 72 (holes)?’ That’s still up in the air.
“But can he recover, from one round to the next? That’s the biggest question that I really don’t know and he’s not going to know either until he gets out there and figures out whether the way he’s prepared for this year’s Masters is going to work for him.”
His last active involvement in the PGA Tour was hosting talks with the Saudi Public Investment Fund – and Newcastle chairman Yasser Al-Rumayyan – in the Bahamas last month.
ESPN commentator Andy North said: “I think playing on the weekend would be a win, a win-win. He’s going to tell you that he’s there because he thinks he can win the tournament, but to be realistic, what he’s gone through, you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. What he has to do to get ready to go out and try to play golf every single day is very, very difficult.”
Woods will speak at 11am EST in the Masters press room on Tuesday. Defending champion Jon Rahm, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are also scheduled to appear that day before the first Major of the season starts on Thursday April 11.
