Golf’s most prestigious event, The Masters, kicks off in little more than a week and the question on everyone’s lips is – will Tiger Woods play?
The sporting legend has not taken part in a competitive professional event since crashing his car in February last year.
He was lucky to escape with his life, as well as his right leg which was in danger of being amputated following the single-vehicle accident.
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Speculation was rife whether he would walk properly again, let alone compete on a golf course.
He stepped out to play publicly in December alongside his son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship, where they ran second but shot an incredible 11 consecutive birdies.
Since then he has been inducted into golf’s hall of game. But, all the while, Woods has refused to put a timeframe or a target on his return to the professional circuit.
He has until Saturday morning (AEDT) to officially commit to the tournament at Augusta National.
Woods has won the event five times – the latest an emotional and astonishing resurgence in 2019 – so he gains automatic entry if he wishes to be in the field.
He will be at the Champions’ Dinner on Wednesday (AEDT) but is yet to confirm or deny he will step up to the tee on Friday morning (AEDT).
A video that surfaced on social media this week has tongues wagging harder than before.
The grainy footage shows Woods hitting practice balls and walking the Medalist course.
If his leg feels up to the rigours of walking and hitting for four days around Augusta, golf fans could very well see the most recognisable player in history make a splendid return to the tour at his most famous event.