Tiger Woods Arrives at Augusta National as Masters Speculation Swirls - Sports Illustrated

Tiger Woods is at Augusta National Golf Club today to play a practice round and gauge whether he is fit to compete in the Masters next week.

The 2022 Masters would be his first official tournament since a serious car crash on Feb. 21, 2021, that left him hospitalized for weeks and unable to walk for months.

Woods, a five-time Masters champion, arrived at the course on Tuesday morning with his son Charlie, according to a source who wished not to be identified.

Various internet and plane-tracking sleuths reported the movements of Woods’ private jet from an airport in Stuart, Florida, near his home, to Augusta earlier Tuesday.

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Charlie Woods was seen hitting balls on the range, while Justin Thomas, a good family friend, was also in attendance.

Woods has said as recently as February that his road back to competitive golf was a long one due to injuries to his right leg and foot. Woods had several broken bones in the foot, as well as ankle issues.

The trip to Augusta was likely to see how he would handle walking the hilly course. Woods does not have to disclose if he intends to play until next week, where he could in theory test his ability to play more practice rounds before a final decision.

Hitting shots is not so much the issue as is the walking associated with the game. Woods moved cautiously when he played the PNC Championship alongside Charlie in December. While his game looked strong considering the layoff, he rode a cart for the 36-hole event and labored at times when he did walk.

Woods last played at the 2020 Masters that was contested in November that year. He won the last of his five Masters titles in 2019.