A comeback not like every other for Tiger Woods may get started on the Masters.
Simply over 13 months since Woods broken his proper leg so badly he mentioned docs thought to be amputation, Woods arrived at Augusta Nationwide on Sunday afternoon and warmed up on a spread the place there have been extra photographers than gamers.
Woods hit balls for roughly 20 mins after which were given in a cart and headed to the route, which is closed Sunday afternoon to everybody apart from gamers and caddies.
Already a celebrity appeal, the hype over the five-time Masters champion is upper than ever after a violent single-car crash that regarded as even though it will finish his occupation.
Nonetheless to come back is the verdict on enjoying.
In a tweet Sunday morning pronouncing he used to be coming to Augusta to renew arrangements for the Masters, he mentioned it’s going to be a “game-time choice” whether or not he competes.
The Masters does now not have a company closing date to devote like common excursion occasions. It’s a call for participation match, and gamers in most cases notify the membership provided that they don’t plan to play.
Tee instances are revealed Tuesday.
“Figuring out Tiger the way in which I do know him, if he wasn’t utterly like … just about really feel he has an opportunity to win, he would not tee it up,” Mark O’Meara mentioned. “The item about Tiger Woods is typically when everyone thinks he cannot do one thing, that is when he does it.”
If Woods makes a decision to play — he performed 18 holes at Augusta Nationwide 5 days in the past — it might be his first pageant in opposition to the sector’s absolute best gamers since Nov. 15, 2020, when the Masters used to be moved to autumn on account of the pandemic.
Photographers and media waited on the a ways finish of the viewing space at the vary close to the caddie space to look when he would arrive. Woods confirmed up at the different finish, shaking fingers with protecting champion Hideki Matsuyama.
Kevin Na and Billy Horschel have been amongst those that came to visit to shake fingers or hug him. Additionally at the vary have been Sungjae Im, Mackenzie Hughes and Jason Kokrak. Sunday afternoon prior to Masters week is a quiet time maximum years. Simply now not this one.
Woods used to be recuperating from a 5th again surgical operation when on Feb. 23, 2021, two days after he introduced the trophy on the Genesis Invitational that he hosts at Riviera, he crashed his SUV over a mean on a suburban coastal street in Los Angeles and down the facet of a hill.
Police estimated he used to be going no less than 84 mph in a forty five mph zone.
Docs mentioned Woods shattered tibia and fibula bones in his proper leg in a couple of places. The ones have been stabilized by way of a rod within the tibia, whilst a mixture of screws and pins have been used to stabilize further accidents within the ankle and foot.
Woods mentioned he spent 3 months immobilized in a makeshift clinic mattress arrange in his Florida house. Simplest then he may just get started transferring round on crutches, and in the end he used to be ready to stroll on his personal.
Woods received the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 with a double tension fracture and torn knee ligaments in his left leg. He made it again from a scandal in his non-public lifestyles to turn out to be No. 1 on the earth once more.
Not anything used to be extra wonderful than 3 years in the past at Augusta Nationwide when he received a 5th inexperienced jacket after 4 again surgical procedures that made him worry he may by no means stroll once more.
That he’s even considering enjoying on this Masters is exceptional in its personal proper. If he can, questions are certain to shift as to whether he can win.
Every week prior to Thanksgiving, he posted a three-second video hitting one shot with two phrases: Making development. Two weeks later on the Hero Global Problem within the Bahamas, a vacation match Woods hosts, he used to be at the again finish of the variety at Albany hitting drivers.
The primary large wonder got here two weeks later when he performed the PNC Problem, a 36-hole scramble on a flat Florida route. Woods used to be allowed to trip in a cart, some extent he made when there have been gushing observations in regards to the state of his recreation. He and his son completed moment when John Daly and his son birdied the closing gap.
“It’ll take numerous paintings to get to the place I believe I will be able to entire in opposition to those guys and be at a top degree,” Woods mentioned that day.
Addressing the situation of his proper leg in February, Woods mentioned it is “altered” and that “my proper leg does not seem like my left, put it that manner.”
The significance of the apply spherical closing week used to be for Woods to verify he may just stroll 18 holes at the undulating terrain of Augusta Nationwide and nonetheless be capable to get well within the days that adopted. That he used to be returning Sunday used to be a excellent signal.
Can he win once more? That might be thought to be extra incredible than his closing Masters victory.
In his closing aggressive spherical at Augusta Nationwide, he made the very best rating of his occupation — a ten at the par-3 twelfth gap by way of hitting 3 balls in Rae’s Creek — best to birdie 5 of the closing six, together with the closing 4 in a row.
