Tiger Woods has talked the discuss, now he’ll must stroll the stroll as he chases a record-tying sixth Masters title solely 14 months after struggling extreme leg accidents in a automobile crash. Woods performed the again 9 at hilly Augusta Nationwide on Wednesday in a ultimate observe spherical earlier than Thursday’s begin of the 86th Masters, making one final take a look at of his surgically repaired proper leg. “I haven’t got any qualms about what I can do bodily from a golf standpoint. It is now strolling is the onerous half,” Woods stated.
“That is usually not a simple stroll to start with. Now given the situation that my leg is in, it will get much more tough. It is going to be a tricky problem and a problem that I am up for.”
The 46-year-old famous person, who says he fights ache on daily basis, performed an 18-hole observe spherical final week over the 7,510-yard format and has performed three nine-hole observe rounds over the previous 4 days.
“I haven’t got to fret in regards to the ball putting,” Woods stated. “It is truly simply the hills.”
Barring a setback in his situation, Woods will tee off Thursday morning alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann with 1000’s of spectators and a worldwide tv viewers watching his each transfer.
“It actually should not shock us. He is one of the crucial devoted, decided athletes I’ve ever seen in my life,” Augusta Nationwide chairman Fred Ridley stated. “Who is aware of what would possibly occur this week? We’re excited he is right here.”
Woods, a 15-time main champion, has not performed a aggressive spherical in 17 months, since attempting to defend his 2019 title at a 2020 Masters delayed to November by Covid-19.
“Contemplating the place his life was 17 months in the past, that is an unbelievable feat,” stated Jack Nicklaus, winner of a document 18 main titles and document six Masters crowns. “Solely reinforces the drive, ardour and work ethic Tiger has at all times possessed.”
In February 2021, Woods was concerned in an car accident that left him hospitalized for weeks and unable to stroll for months, his proper leg repaired with rods, plates and screws which have left him with restricted mobility.
“I have been very enthusiastic about how I’ve recovered each day,” Woods stated. “That has been the problem… how am I going to get all of the swelling out and get well for the following day.”
Woods, a former world primary who has slumped to 973rd within the rankings on account of his prolonged layoff, plans on a 72-hole trek over 4 days. His solely missed Masters reduce got here in 1996 as an newbie.
“It will get agonizing and teasing due to easy issues. It isn’t like one thing I have never finished, however the instances have gotten longer on either side,” Woods stated of the time it takes him to arrange and get well from a spherical.
“We push it and attempt to get well the perfect we presumably can that evening and see how it’s the subsequent morning. Then you have to do this day in and time out.”
Rain no fear for Tiger
Rain has softened the course, which might make footing much more treacherous, though that does not concern Woods because of particular footwear.
“I do not fear about slipping,” he stated. “I’ve received metals (spikes) in so I haven’t got to fret about that. Even with the rain, it would not actually concern me.”
Woods, whose 82 US PGA Tour titles is degree for the all-time document set by Sam Snead, stated he would have been glad together with his profession had his accidents been too extreme to return.
“I feel 82 is a fairly good quantity,” he stated. “And 15 (majors) shouldn’t be too unhealthy both.”
“After I determine to hold it up, once I really feel like I can not win anymore, then that shall be it. However I really feel like I can nonetheless do it.”
If Woods does seize a sixth inexperienced jacket, it will be among the many most astonishing comeback tales in sports activities historical past.
However merely with the ability to play, and stroll in any respect, is an achievement for Woods, who feared amputation shortly after the crash.
“The truth that I used to be in a position to get myself right here up to now is a hit,” Woods stated.
“Now that I am enjoying, every thing is targeted on how do I get myself into the place the place I am on that again 9 on Sunday with an opportunity, identical to I did a number of years in the past,” stated Woods, who returned from spinal fusion surgical procedure to win the 2019 Masters, his first main title since limping to victory on the 2008 US Open on a damaged leg.
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