Tiger Woods looks to be playing Masters with media chat booked
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Tiger Woods was slotted into an 11am media session at Augusta National.
PHOTO: USA TODAY SPORTS
AUGUSTA – Tiger Woods has not formally said that he will be playing in the 87th Masters this week, but the 15-time Major champion has an interview time booked along with other players on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old winner of five Masters green jackets was slotted into an 11am media session at Augusta National, tournament officials announced on Friday, giving the strongest indication yet that the American will compete.
His status at events has always been in question since he suffered severe leg injuries in a February 2021 car accident in Southern California.
It is the latest confirmation of Woods, also listed in the field on the Masters website, making good on his stated plan from February’s PGA Genesis Invitational at Riviera, where he shared 45th and said he intended to play all four Majors in 2023.
The golf great made his competitive return from the crash at the 2022 Masters, where he struggled to walk 72 holes but shared 47th place.
He withdrew from the 2022 PGA Championship after three rounds due to leg pain, skipped the US Open and missed the cut at the British Open.
Unlike PGA Tour events, which finalise fields on the Friday afternoon before tournament week, the Masters has no commitment deadline for players.
Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, seeking a victory to complete a career Grand Slam, are also among players set to speak to reporters on Tuesday.
Scheffler will try to join Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters winners.
“I have a couple things to work on before Augusta, but definitely plenty of confidence going in,” he said.
The 26-year-old, who has won the Players Championship and Phoenix Open in 2023, seeks the first Masters repeat since Woods in 2002.
“I’m not going to think of myself as the defending champion,” he added.
“I’m just going to go out there like I usually do, try and execute shots and play good solid rounds of golf.”
Four-time Major winner McIlroy, who has not captured a Major since the 2014 PGA Championship, is also feeling confident.
“Everything feels in really good order,” the 33-year-old Northern Irishman said.
“Just work on some things I know I’ll need and just make sure I’m ready and rested.”
McIlroy, who won at Dubai in January, believes he can join Woods, Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen with the career Grand Slam.
“I’ve always known that I have the game to win at this place,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of having that game for four days in a row.”
Meanwhile, former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Aaron Wise has said that he has decided to withdraw from the Masters to focus on his mental health. AFP, REUTERS
