Tiger Woods says he feels stronger than last year as he prepares to make another emotional return to the Masters. A year ago, Woods stunned the golf world by playing in the Masters, 14 months after sustaining serious leg injuries in a 2021 car crash.
The 15-time major champion struggled to walk 72 holes and finished 47th at Augusta National but says his fitness and strength has improved dramatically heading into next week’s showpiece in Georgia. “My core is so much stronger than it was then. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve got the (Club) speed that I have. I’ve had to use it a different way but also be careful with my back being fused. It’s a challenge and that’s the fun part about it,” Woods said.
Woods shared 45th at the PGA Genesis Invitational six weeks ago, his third-round 67 the lowest round of his comeback from bone-shattering injuries that continue to make walking a greater test than shot-making.
Woods, 47, trimmed his 2022 schedule to the Masters, the PGA Championship — where he withdrew before the final round — and the British Open, where he missed the cut. “I’m not going to play any more than probably the majors and maybe a couple more. That’s it, that’s all my body will allow me to do,” Woods said of future years.
Woods has also faced the fact that time is running out for him to even manage a slimmed down schedule. “There will come a point in time when my body will not allow me to do that anymore,” said Woods whose 82 PGA Tour titles share the all-time record with Sam Snead.
He will be chasing his sixth Masters title to equal the long-standing record held by Jack Nicklaus. Besides the Masters record, Woods will be seeking to increase his haul at majors to 16 as he chases the record of 18 held by Nicklaus.
SOURCE: AFP NEWS
