Tiger Woods flew to Augusta National on Tuesday, sparking even greater speculation the Masters next week could be his first time competing against the best since a car crash 14 months ago severely injured his right leg.
Various plane-tracking websites showed a Gulfstream registered to Woods leaving South Florida at about 9 a.m., and the twitter handle B次元官网网址淓ureka EarthB次元官网网址� showed the on the runway at AugustaB次元官网网址檚 regional airport.
SI.comB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢orning ReadB次元官网网址� cited a source as saying Woods was at Augusta National with 12-year-old son Charlie. WoodsB次元官网网址� agent at Excel Sports did not immediately respond to a voicemail from The Associated Press seeking comment.
Woods has not said anything publicly or even walked in a way that suggested he would be ready to play his first major B次元官网网址� and first PGA Tour event B次元官网网址� since the Masters in November 2020.
Speculation began to pick up when from the list of players who plan to compete in the Masters, which starts April 7. Woods was , and when asked a week ago for guidance on a decision, his agent said it was too early.
Unlike regular tournaments, players donB次元官网网址檛 have a commitment deadline. Woods is a five-time Masters champion who can play every year. ItB次元官网网址檚 up to him to tell Augusta National whether he will play, and that can happen all the way up until the start of the tournament.
Woods was seen playing at The Medalist near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida, over the weekend. He presumably was at Augusta National to see how his legs could hold up on one of the toughest walks in golf. The course has elevations on nearly every hole.
He played in December in the PNC Championship with his son B次元官网网址� they B次元官网网址� in a 36-hole tournament in Florida where Woods was able to ride in a cart and the format was a scramble.
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B次元官网网址淏ut to be able to be out here and play, call it six rounds of golf, a practice round, pro-am, four competitive days, itB次元官网网址檚 the cumulative effect of all that. IB次元官网网址檓 not able to do that yet. IB次元官网网址檓 still working on getting to that point,B次元官网网址� Woods said six weeks ago at .
During an interview on CBS Sports that weekend, Woods gave no timetable on a return and said he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want to show up just to play.
B次元官网网址淚 need to feel that IB次元官网网址檓 confident that I can beat these guys, and I got to do the legwork at home. ItB次元官网网址檚 on me,B次元官网网址� he said.
Woods has been seen moving well but slowly in his few public appearances, such as at Riviera or three weeks ago when he was .
His last Masters victory, in 2019, followed four surgeries on his lower back and was among the most remarkable comebacks in sports. Later in the year, he won the Zozo Championship in Japan for his 82nd career PGA Tour title, tying Sam Snead for the all-time record.
He played only nine times during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. And then Feb. 23, while recovering from a fifth back surgery, he drove his SUV over a median and it tumbled down a hillside in the coastal suburbs of Los Angeles.
Doctors said he shattered tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilized by a rod in the tibia. A combination of screws and pins were used to stabilize additional injuries in the ankle and foot.
Woods has said amputation was discussed at one point.
Whether he chooses to play at Augusta National does not affect the field. The Masters is an invitational and does not have an alternate list.
Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press
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