Woods insists he’ s in it to win it as he plans big return at the Masters

Tiger Woods plans to compete in the 86th Masters this week, less than 14 months after suffering serious injuries in a horrific car crash in February 2021.

The 15-time major golf winner, who feared shortly after the accident that his right leg would have to be amputated, has not contested a top-level event since the 2020 Masters, which was played in November that year.

The 46-year-old, who competed in the PNC Championship with son Charlie in December, played a practice round at Augusta last week and nine holes on both Sunday and Monday.

“As of right now I feel like I am going to play,” Woods said in his pretournament press conference.

Asked if he thought he could win a 16th major title this week, Woods said: “I do.”

Asked what his overriding emotion was on being able to compete at Augusta, Woods said: “Thankful. Very, very thankful for everyone’s support, everyone who has been involved in my process and the work I have put in each and every day.

“The amount of texts and FaceTimes and calls I have gotten has meant a lot.”

Woods said he had been driven by his desire to compete and win again, adding: “I feel like if I can still compete at the highest level I am going to, but if I feel like I can’t, you won’t see me out here.

“I don’t show up to an event unless I think I can win it.”

Woods recovered from spinal fusion surgery in 2017 to win his fifth Masters title two years later, finished 38th in the defence of his crown in November 2020 and missed last year’s tournament following his car crash.

He added: “The fact that I was able to get myself here at this point was a success and now that I am playing, everything is focused on getting in that position on the back nine on Sunday with a chance like I did a few years ago.

“I feel like I can still do it. I still have the hands to do it, the body is moving good enough. I have been in worse situations and won tournaments.”

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy will favour patience and discipline over any highlight-reel heroics as he bids to win the Masters and complete a career grand slam.

McIlroy famously held a four-shot lead after 54 holes of the Masters in 2011, only to collapse to a closing 80 and finish 10 shots behind the winner, Charl Schwartzel.

His best finish of fourth came on his first attempt to complete the grand slam in 2015 and the 32-year-old has finished in the top 10 in six of his last eight starts without really contending on the back nine on Sunday.

“Patience, discipline, don’t make big numbers,” McIlroy said when asked about his planned approach this year.

“It’s as much of a chess game as anything else, and it’s just about putting yourself in the right positions... and knowing that pars are good, and even if you make a couple of pars on the par fives that’s OK, and you just keep moving forward.

“(The course) baits you into going for flags that you shouldn’t go for, so again it’s about being very disciplined with your approach play, knowing that if you hit a wedge to 20 or 30 feet, that’s OK.

“It’s about playing to the fat part of the green, being somewhat conservative. I think that’s what wins you Masters.”

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COMEBACK: Tiger Woods has not featured in a top-level event since defending his Masters title in the 2020 edition of the tournament.