Tiger Woods looks set to return to action at Masters after being listed on press conference schedule
Golfing legend hasn't featured since pulling out in Dubai last month but is now set to compete on 20th anniversary of first win
TIGER WOODS looks almost certain to return to action at next week’s Masters, after it was revealed he will be holding a press conference at Augusta 48 hours before the tournament begins.
Woods, 41, who has been plagued by back problems for the past three years, had already confirmed he would be at Augusta for the Champion’s Dinner, just as he was last year.
On that occasion he did not hold a press conference – and there seems no reason why he would do things differently this time unless he was confident he will be fit to start.
Woods, who has won four green jackets, missed the Masters for the first time in twenty years after undergoing the first of three back operations in 2014.
He was back at Augusta two years ago, finishing joint 17th, but his attempts to recapture the form that brought his 14 Major victories have been thwarted by injuries.
He was paid nearly £2million to play in the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year – but withdrew after shooting a first round 77 complaining of more back spams, and has not played a competitive round since.
His public appearances have been restricted to promotional outings to push a book celebrating the first of his Masters victories twenty years ago.
But earlier this week he insisted he had not given up hope of competing at Augusta this year, saying: "I do have a chance to play.
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“I’m trying everything I possibly can to get to that point. I'm working, I'm working on my game. I just need to get to a point where I feel like I'm good enough and I'm healthy enough to do it.
“I've been a part of so many Masters over the course of my career, I know exactly what it takes to get ready for that event. Now it's my job to go out there and get ready. I hope I can.”
It looks like he may have won his fitness battle – but it remains to be seen whether he can trade blows with the likes of world No 1 Dustin Johnson - who has own his lat three events – and the rest of the new generation.