Listen out for Tiger’s roar at Augusta

It’s the question everyone in golf is asking, so here’s my answer.

Tiger Woods can most certainly win The Masters next month.

What a story Tiger’s comeback in 2018 is proving to be. Anyone who has watched him week-byweek will have seen a marked improvement with every tournament.

But his last two results, at the Honda Classic last month and then last weekend’s Valspar Championship, really made you sit up and take notice.

I had to keep reminding myself that this is a guy who had played only 19 tournaments in the previous four seasons, and had a career-threatening back operation last April.

Both those events were played on tough, breezy courses. Yet, watching him at the Valspar, Woods was fully in control of his game.

He took his driver when there was a bit more room. But he was happy to take a three-wood or an iron off the tee when the hole demanded it.

That tells me his body and mind are working in unison. If his back is free of pain, he can concentrate fully on his strategy and there is no-one who can think their way round a golf course better than Tiger Woods.

He is swinging so much better, but is still generating as much club-head speed as anyone else when he needs it.

Plus, the old intimidation factor is back. Playing with the past two Open Champions in Henrik Stenson and Jordan Spieth in Tampa last week, Tiger was on his game while they struggled.

Spieth, especially, just didn’t look comfortable in the circus that follows Woods around.

The only thing lacking is maybe a little bit of competitive edge, because Tiger couldn’t quite get it done last Sunday.

Saying that, it still needed a career-round of 65 from Paul Casey, which included only 21 putts, to beat Tiger by one.

It was a special and long overdue win for Paul, and knowing that he beat an in-form Woods will have made his triumph feel even sweeter.

I don’t think Tiger needs to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational this evening to prove he’s ready to contend at Augusta.

Having the four rounds in Orlando was most important, as this is his last competitive outing before the season’s first Major.

Even in the depths of despair, Woods has played well at Augusta before. In 2010, he finished tied for fourth – after not playing a tournament for five months.

With four Green Jackets to his name, including that incredible 12-stroke victory back in 1997, he knows what it takes to win around there.

Heading into The Masters, Tiger is going to be the story.

He transcends the sport. Even non-golf fans want to see if the 42-year-old can get any closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Majors.

The crowds at the events where he has played have been huge and the TV ratings have shot up. That is the Tiger Woods effect.

At a time when golf really needed it, Tiger’s return has provided our sport with a mostwelcome shot in the arm.