The American sustained several fractures in his right leg in February last year in a car accident south of Los Angeles that he was responsible for as a result of excessive speed. According to Woods, doctors had considered amputating his leg because of the severity of the injuries. But the American fought his way back to life and onto the golf course over the months.
“It’s great to be back,” said the 15-time Major winner, who was world number one for 683 weeks in an extraordinary career. When asked by a journalist whether he could win the Masters, Woods answered confidently, as always: “I can!”
Hype triggered a week ago
There were rumors a week ago that Woods could compete in the first major tournament of the year. A little news about a secret training lap at the beautiful facility on Magnolia Lane in the US state of Georgia just over a week ago triggered the huge hype. Along with son Charlie and his good friend Justin Thomas, Woods had played all 18 holes on the course. On Sunday he traveled to Augusta again to resume preparation for the tournament.
Tiger Woods returns to tour
The 15-time major winner wants to return to the golf stage at the famous Masters in Augusta this week of all days. After his serious car accident 14 months ago, a comeback seemed impossible, now golf legend Tiger Woods is back.
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But Woods kept a low profile until the press conference and spoke of a “tournament-related decision”. He made them all squirm. “He looked like the tiger we saw before the accident,” enthused PGA pro Billy Horschel, who watched Woods hit the ball in Augusta. The golf swing and speed are back. The tournament organizers then hurriedly shared a one-minute video clip of Woods’ practice session on social media, fueling the hype even more.
The par 72 golf course is one of the hilliest courses on the US tour and requires a good portion of fitness from the pros. Woods now seems to have found the right answer for himself. “He looked phenomenal,” said 1992 Masters winner Fred Couples after a quick lap with Woods. “If he can walk around 72 holes here, he will be able to keep up. He’s just too good.”
A special relationship
Woods and the Augusta National Golf Club – that’s a very special love. 25 years ago, Woods made golf history at the Masters with his first major win, and in 1997 he won his first of five Masters titles by a record twelve shots. Also in 2001, 2002 and 2005 the US star was able to put on the green winner’s jacket. Title number five followed in 2019. After decades of suffering with personal low points, injuries and numerous operations, it was one of the greatest and most emotional comebacks in sports history.
His last official PGA tournament was the Masters in November 2020, which was not held on the usual date in spring that year due to the CoV pandemic. The serious accident then happened in February 2021. He was in the hospital for three weeks and then in a hospital bed at his home in Florida for another three months. Then he started rehab and with it his own preparation for the Masters.
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