Mark SchlapachSenior writer for ESPN3 minutes to read
Augusta, Georgia – If there are any questions lingering about Tiger Woods, competing in the Masters 87 this week, answered them by appearing at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday.
Woods, 47, has competed in just one official PGA Tour event in more than seven months, finishing 45th at the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club outside Los Angeles in February.
The 15-time major tournament winner made his official return to competitive golf at the 2022 Masters, which marked his first start in 508 days after sustaining a serious injury in a car wreck in February 2021. He finished 47th after taking 6 consecutive pars over 78s. at the weekend, which was his worst score at the Masters.
Woods, a five-time Masters champion, arrived at the practice field Sunday around 3 p.m. ET and hit the balls for about 30 minutes. It will be his 25th start at the Masters.
Woods played in just three events last season; He withdrew after 54 holes in the PGA Championship due to pain in his surgically repaired right leg and back, and missed the cut at the 150 Open at St Andrews in July.
Woods has said over and over again that he will only play in the major leagues and maybe another tournament or two in the future.
At the Genesis Invitational, Woods said, “Here’s the deal: Like I told you guys last year, I’m not going to play more than probably the big guys and maybe a couple more.” “That’s it, that’s all my body will allow me to do. My back is the same, all the surgeries I’ve had on my back, my legs are the same, I can’t. This will just be my future.”
“So my goal last year was to play in all four majors; I got three of the four. Hopefully this year I can get all four and maybe sprinkle a little here and there. But that’s it for the rest of my career. I know that and I understand that. It’s just realistic.”
Woods is scheduled to speak to reporters during a news conference on Tuesday.