Masters LIVE: Tiger Woods announces he will play at Augusta in press conference
Follow live as Tiger Woods gives a press conference from Augusta National and announces his participation in The Masters
Tiger Woods will play at the 2022 Masters, he announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
He gave a press conference at Augusta National and announced that: “As of right now, I’m going to play [in The Masters]. I’m going to play nine more holes tomorrow. My recovery has been good. I’ve been very excited about how I’ve recovered each and every day.” The tournament begins on Thursday.
On Monday, five-time Green Jacket winner Woods practised for the second day running as he stepped up his preparations for an appearance at The 86th Masters
The 46-year-old has not played in a top-level event since being involved in a horrific car crash in February 2021. The 15-time major winner, who feared shortly after the accident that his right leg would have to be amputated, competed in the PNC Championship with son Charlie in December but an appearance at Augusta completes a miraculous comeback.
Follow Tiger’s press conference and announcement LIVE below:
Tiger Woods confirms he expects to play at The Masters
Tiger Woods has confirmed he expects to play The Masters, marking his return to competitive golf 14 months after being involved in a near-fatal car crash.
The 46-year-old, who won at Augusta in 2019, feared his right leg may have to be amputated shortly after the accident but played in an exhibition event in December with his son, Charlie, fuelling speculation about another comeback.
Woods played a practice round at Augusta last week, and then nine holes on both Sunday and Monday to test his physical condition, before holding a press conference on Tuesday.
The 15-time major winner confirmed “as of right now I am going to play” before adding that he would not do so if he didn’t believe he could win.
Tiger Woods confirms he expects to play at The Masters
Woods returns 14 months after being involved in a near-fatal car crash
Woods partering Oosthuizen and Niemann
The tee times for Thursday morning have been released and we know who will play with Tiger Woods. 2012 Master champion Louis Oosthuizen and 23-year-old Joaquín Niemann will tee off alongside Tiger at 10.34am.
Who will win The Masters? Betting tips and tournament picks
The world’s eyes return to the Augusta National as The Masters gets underway this week.
Hideki Matsuyama defends the Green Jacket but all eyes will be on Tiger Woods this week as the five-time champion prepares to make his first competitive appearance since his horrific car crash last year.
Woods is still understandably seen as an outsider to win, with Jon Rahm the favourite with the bookmakers. However, he is very closely followed by Justin Thomas, Cameron Smith and new world No 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Who will win The Masters? Betting tips and tournament picks
Everything you need to know ahead of the year’s first major
What does success look like for Tiger this week?
“I think that the fact that I was able to get myself here to this point is a success,” he said towards the end of his press conference.
“And now that I’m playing, now everything is focused on how do I get myself into a position where I’m on that back nine on Sunday with a chance, just like I did a few years ago.”
How can I watch the Masters this week?
he eyes of the golfing world turn to Augusta, Georgia for the 86th edition of The Masters - the first men’s major of the season.
Hideki Matsuyama claimed his maiden green jacket 12 months ago at Augusta National, becoming the first Japanese golfer to win a major.
The 30-year-old withdrew from the Valero Texas Open last weekend due to a neck issue and faces a late call on whether he is able to defend his title, while Tiger Woods says ‘as of right now, I feel like I am going to play.’
How can I watch the Masters this week?
Everything you need to know ahead of the first major of the year at Augusta National
'I don’t show up unless I think I can win.’
More from Tiger’s press conference where the 15-time major champion has been explaining his motivation for playing this week.
“I love competing and I feel like if I can still compete at the highest level, I’m going to,” he said. “And if I feel can still win, I’m going to play. But if I feel like I can’t, then you won’t see me out here.
“You guys know me better than that. I don’t show up to an event unless I think I can win it. That’s the attitude I’ve had.
“There’ll be a day when it won’t happen and I’ll know when that is.”
Tiger Woods confirms he expects to play at The Masters
Tiger Woods has confirmed he expects to play The Masters in his return to competitive golf since the serious car crash last year.
The 46-year-old, who won at Augusta in 2019, broke his leg in a single-vehicle collision in February 202 and has had two practice rounds since arriving at Augusta National on Sunday.
In his press conference today, Woods said “as of right now I am going to play”.
Tiger Woods confirms he expects to play at The Masters
Woods returns 14 months after being involved in a near-fatal car crash
‘I believe I can win’ says Tiger
Woods was just asked whether he believes he can win the tournament.
“I do,” he replied, “I can hit it just fine. I don’t have any qualms about what I can do physically from a golf standpoint.
“Walking’s the hard part. This is normally not an easy walk to begin with. Now given the condition my leg is in it gets a little more difficult.
“72 holes is a long road and it’s going to be a tough challenge and a challenge that I’m up for.”
‘Recovery’ biggest issue for Woods
Tiger Woods has explained how his recovery from playing is the biggest challenge he faces ahead of competing in The Masters this week.
He also revealed that he played 27 holes during last week’s visit to Augusta with his son Charlie.
“That’s been the challenge,” Woods said of the recovery process. “That’s why I came up here and tested out for 27 holes - we played the par three course, Charlie couldn’t help himself.
“But it’s the recovery, how am I going to get all the swelling out and recover for the next day? My team has been fantastic and worked very hard, so I’ve got another day of nine more holes and then comes game-time.”
Tiger Woods to play in The Masters
‘As of right now, I’m going to play’ says Woods as he answers questions from the media in the Augusta press room.
“I’m going to play nine more holes tomorrow. My recovery has been good. I’ve been very excited about how I’ve recovered each and every day.”
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