Tiger looks set to play at Masters
Big hint that Woods will make a surprise Masters comeback
TIGER WOODS’ name appeared on the Masters interview schedule last night, fuelling speculation that he will be in the field at Augusta next week. Woods has been working hard in South Florida to get ready for what will be the 20th anniversary of his 12-stroke victory in his first major as a professional. This was the clearest indication yet that he has been given the all-clear. Woods has not been seen since his comeback after 15 months away from the game following back surgery proved shortlived at the Dubai Desert Classic last month. Woods underlined his desperation to make it to Augusta when he was asked on American television recently whether he planned to play. ‘God, I hope so,’ he replied. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler shot a classy, first-round 64 yesterday to be clubhouse leader at the Shell Houston Open.
TIGER WOODS’S name appeared on the Masters interview schedule yesterday, fuelling speculation he will be part of the field for the season’s first major next week.
Woods has not been seen since withdrawing after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in early February, but has been working hard on his fitness in recent weeks and practising in South Florida with his coach Chris Como.
When interviewed on American television recently, Woods revealed he was ‘trying everything’ to make it for what will be the 20th anniversary of his milestone victory, when he won his first major as a professional by 12 strokes.
At Augusta they were typically circumspect yesterday, with one source telling Sportsmail: ‘Tiger is part of the field until he says he isn’t.’ Unlike a normal PGA Tour event, where players have to commit on the Friday before the event, Woods could simply show up, register, and then compete in the Masters.
In reality, it is likely a final decision will be made by Tiger and his team on Sunday — but the fact his name is still on the interview list so close to the tournament has to be a positive sign.
Woods has not played in two of the last three Masters and has completed only seven competitive rounds since 2015, owing to three back operations.
But his desperation to play in what would be such a special edition for him was illustrated when the American television interviewer asked him if he planned to play. ‘God, I hope so,’ he replied. Meanwhile, at the Shell Houston Open, Rickie Fowler shot a classy first-round 64 yesterday to vividly illustrate that Dustin Johnson’s coach Butch Harmon will have more than one thoroughbred at Augusta.
Fowler is guaranteed to turn heads on Masters Thursday anyway, given the colourful one is planning to wear clothes of a camouflage design reportedly inspired by the ‘ shapes of Augusta’s greens’ — whatever that means.
He will be the centre of attention for other reasons if he shapes like he did here, where it is no exaggeration to say he would have threatened a 60 if a few putts that shaved the hole had dropped instead.
Given he carded a score three full strokes better than anyone else in the morning wave, he was not about to complain.
Fowler has not had a look-in publicity- wise alongside Johnson’s stellar play but he comes here having finished first and 12th in his last two events in Florida. A sleeper pick for the Masters, and no mistake.
It is always a moot point whether to play the week before a major or take in a reconnaissance mission to Augusta and practise — and then there is Phil Mickelson, who is doing what he always does, which is both.
On Monday and Tuesday he played at Augusta before turning his attention to this event. As he has three green jackets to his name and any number of other close finishes, it is fair to say the routine works for him.
Now 46, the gifted lefty shot 72 and then explained why he likes to play his way to Georgia. ‘I played terrible today but playing here helps me to get sharp so that I don’t have a day like this next Thursday,’ he said. ‘I get focused and dialled in a lot easier when I only have three days in between tournament rounds rather than 10.’
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston needs to win this event to join the 11 Englishmen already qualified for next week but that possibility entered the realms of fantasy after a 73.
Then there is Lee Westwood, who told Sportsmail on Wednesday it had been years since he looked forward to a fortnight as much as this one. He started double bogey, bogey, double bogey, which goes to show you can look forward to something too much. Still, better this week than next.