Woods ‘a lot stronger’ ahead of US PGA tilt at Southern Hills
Tiger Woods says he has “gotten a lot stronger” since the Masters last month, as he played a nine-hole practice round at Southern Hills Country Club on Sunday ahead of this week’s US PGA Championship.
The 15-time major champion, 46, is preparing to compete in the season’s second major, which tees off in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday, having made his shock return to tournament play at Augusta National.
The Masters marked Woods’ first competitive outing since he suffered severe leg injuries during a single-car crash in February last year. The fivetime Masters winner, who because of the accident came close to having his left leg amputated, eventually finished 47th.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday at Southern Hills, Woods said: “I’ve gotten a lot stronger since the Masters. We went back to work on [the] Tuesday [following Augusta
National]. Monday was awful. I did nothing and Tuesday was leg day. So, we went right back after it.
“We started ramping up a week or so ago, played a little bit more golf, and it was good. Everything is better.”
After his final round at the Masters, Woods said he would have to carefully select his tournament appearances from now on, committing only to this summer’s Open Championship at St Andrews.
However, like Augusta National, the former world No 1 knows Southern Hills well: Woods triumphed there in 2007, the last time the club staged the PGA Championship. It represented his 13th major title.
On Sunday, his caddie, Joe LaCava, said: “Hundred per cent I see him stronger. I just think the endurance is there now. I don’t think he’s getting quite as tired as quickly. I see more endurance more than anything.
“Other than the fact that he won here 15 years ago, I think it’s the stamina and endurance thing that excites him the most.”