Tiger Woods appears to be getting ready to play at the Masters after playing a round at Augusta National last week.
The 15-time major champion entered the new season with plenty of optimism about playing more regularly.
He hasn’t played more than three events in a single campaign since the 2019/20 season, but he only played one major that year.
The season prior Woods won the Masters in one of the sport’s most iconic comeback stories of all time.
But he’s dealt with more injury issues and has still recovering from the 2021 car crash that almost resulted in him losing a leg.
He made the cut at last year’s Masters, but was forced to withdraw due to a back problem as he was seen limping around the hilly Augusta course.
He had entered the new season with hope of playing once a month, but he’s not played competitively since pulling out of the Genesis Invitational with an illness.
Woods appeared to ease any fears over his fitness, insisting his withdrawal was due to contracting influenza.
But the 48-year-old has not spoken out since that message on February 17 other than a few promotional tweets.
He’s been seen a handful of times walking courses with his son Charlie and was present for the 15-year-old’s state championship ceremony last month.
However, Woods is still yet to confirm whether he will make his return at Augusta next week.
He’s been included in the provisional field for the 2024 tournament, although every former champion eligible to play is initially on the list.
But new reports have emerged to indicate Woods is doing everything he can to get ready for the first major of the year.
According to Sports Illustrated and popular X account TWLegion, Woods played a round at Augusta with club chairman Fred Ridley and Justin Thomas.
Woods often plays a major course in the build-up to tournaments to get his body ready for the challenge.
The Augusta course presents Woods with tricky terrain for his repaired right leg and foot.
Most shots are not played from a flat surface and and will test Woods’ physical limitations having withdrawn from last year’s event.
But little is known about Woods’ current condition given his radio silence over the last two months.
The Valero Texas Open is the final PGA Tour event this week before the Masters with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa and Brian Harman in the field.
McIlroy is set to speak to the media on Wednesday following the tournament’s pro-am where he could be asked about Woods given their close relationship.
But realistically golf fans will have to wait one more week to find out whether Woods is truly ready to compete at Augusta.
