AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National Sunday to prepare for the Masters.
After the conclusion of Sunday’s Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, participants in the Masters tournament are granted access to the course and the practice facility. Late on Sunday, Woods was one of the players who took the opportunity to practice. It has been reported that Woods, along with Justin Thomas, had also visited Augusta last weekend to make preparations for the upcoming tournament.
A Sunday stroll. #themasters pic.twitter.com/2El1GGM1Fj
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2024
Woods, aged 48, is anticipated to participate in only his second official event of 2024, subsequent to his involvement as the host of the Genesis Invitational. During this tournament, he managed to complete a single round at Riviera, achieving a score of one-over 72, before being compelled to withdraw midway through the second round due to illness. Additionally, Woods had a shortened 2023 season, participating in only two events before undergoing ankle surgery subsequent to the Masters. Over the past four years, he has successfully completed all four rounds of an official tournament on only two occasions.
One of the differences since Woods’ previous Masters appearance is a fresh clothing sponsorship, as Woods now showcases his own brand, “Sun Day Red,” after parting ways with Nike. After Joe LaCava, Woods’ longtime caddie, switched to Patrick Cantlay, Woods enlisted Lance Bennett as his new caddie. Bennett, who previously caddied for Matt Kuchar and more recently for Sungjae Im and Davis Riley, has collaborated with Woods in the past. The pair made their first appearance together earlier this year at the Genesis.
Woods has recently assumed a new administrative role within the game as he joins Augusta. This move comes after the unexpected and astonishing agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. In response to the members of the tour seeking greater transparency in the organization’s governance, Woods was appointed to the tour’s policy board. Furthermore, he was granted the position of vice chairman on the newly-established, for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises board.
Woods has won five of his 15 major championships at the Masters and has successfully made the cut in his last 25 starts at Augusta National. Despite his limited playing time in recent years, Woods admitted at last year’s Masters that he is uncertain about how many more starts he has left.
“Last year was a bit uncertain for me… I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to play again at that point,” Woods mentioned, referring to his comeback from a car accident in 2021. “Somehow, everything fell into place and I pushed myself a little harder, managing to make the cut, which was a relief.”
I’m not sure how much longer I can keep going. It’s important for me to value the time I have and treasure the memories I make.
Woods has a scheduled media appearance on Tuesday morning.
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