Woods expected to play in Masters
All signs are pointing toward Tiger Woods playing in the Masters for the 26th time in his career, ESPN reported.
Woods, who has won the Masters five times, was seen practicing at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday after flying in from Florida. He was with his caddie,
Lance Bennett, who worked with Woods at the Genesis Invitational in February.
Photos of Woods practicing were shared by Augusta National Golf Club on X. The Masters begins Thursday.
Woods can make history as he is going for his 24th straight made cut at the Masters. He currently shares the record of 23 with Gary Player and
Fred Couples, a mark Woods reached in 2023 before withdrawing ahead of the third round due to plantar fasciitis.
PGA: Akshay Bhatia defeated Denny McCarthy on the first playoff hole to complete a wild win at the Valero Texas Open on Sunday at TPC San Antonio.
Bhatia began the day with a four-shot lead but went to a playoff after McCarthy finished his round with seven straight birdies for an 8-under 28 on the back nine and a final-round 63.
Bhatia finished his 67 with a birdie on the par-5 18th but dislocated his left shoulder with a celebratory fist pump.
“It’s happened before,” he said. “I had this happen from pickleball and then had it happen in Bermuda.”
The players returned to the 18th tee, and after his drive Bhatia realized his shoulder was hurt. While he waited for a trainer to tape his shoulder, McCarthy put his third shot of the hole into the creek alongside the green.
Bhatia promptly stuck his third shot 6 feet from the cup, and he drained his birdie to win the event and secure a berth into this week’s Masters.
He and McCarthy played the four rounds in 20-under 268.
LPGA: Nelly Korda won for the third straight week on the LPGA Tour and for her fourth consecutive start by defeating Ireland’s Leona Maguire 4 and 3 in the championship match of the T-Mobile Match Play on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Korda figures to be heavily favored at the first women’s major of the year, the Chevron Championship, which will be April 18-21 in The Woodlands, Texas.