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Tiger Woods insists he can win a sixth inexperienced jacket and sixteenth main title, regardless of detailing the ache he faces on the overwhelming majority of photographs at Augusta Nationwide.
Woods has performed fewer than five-and-a-half aggressive rounds since present process ankle surgical procedure in April final 12 months after withdrawing from the Masters throughout the third spherical.
The 48-year-old returned to motion within the Hero World Problem in December and accomplished all 72 holes, however was compelled to withdraw from the Genesis Invitational in February as a result of sickness after six holes of the second spherical.
Woods had additionally suffered a again spasm which led to a dreaded shank on the 18th gap in spherical one, however caught to his tried and examined reply when requested what he thought he might obtain this week.
“If every part comes collectively, I feel I can get yet another,” Woods stated, including with a smile: “Do I would like to explain that any greater than that, or are we good?”
But that query and reply got here simply minutes after Woods had candidly described the problems that the litany of accidents he has suffered through the years – together with nearly shedding his proper leg following a automotive accident in 2021 – trigger him on something however a wonderfully flat lie.
“Each shot that’s not on a tee field is a problem,” Woods conceded.
“The ankle doesn’t harm anymore. It’s fused. It’s not going anyplace. In order that’s fantastic. It’s different components of my physique that now should take the brunt of it.
“The again, the knee, different components of the physique should take the load of it and simply the endurance functionality of strolling a very long time and being on my toes for a very long time (is a matter).
“Issues simply flare up. The coaching that now we have to do at dwelling, it adjustments from a day-to-day foundation. Some days I simply really feel actually good and different days not a lot. I harm day-after-day.
“I assumed that, after I was at Hero, as soon as a month can be a very nice rhythm. Hasn’t labored out that means. However now now we have main championships each month from right here by July so now the as soon as a month hopefully kicks in.”
Whereas writing Woods off has proved a harmful sport up to now, making a Twenty fourth-consecutive lower at Augusta Nationwide, having equalled the document shared by Gary Participant and Fred {Couples} final 12 months, seems a much more achievable purpose than successful.
“I feel it’s consistency, it’s longevity and it’s an understanding of the right way to play this golf course,” Woods stated of that potential landmark.
“That’s one of many explanation why you see gamers which might be of their 50s and 60s make cuts right here, or it’s gamers of their late 40s have runs at successful the occasion, simply the understanding of the right way to play it.
“Now, you continue to should exit and execute it, however there’s quite a lot of information that goes into understanding the right way to play it. And, granted, each tee field has been modified for the reason that first time I performed. Each inexperienced has been modified.
“However the general configuration of how they roll and the way they transfer and the angles you are taking, that hasn’t modified.
“That’s the neat factor about this. I can nonetheless undergo the psychological Rolodex and convey out a couple of putts from the ’90s that also transfer usually in that path and the impact that Rae’s Creek has on sure photographs and putts. And it means lots.”
Woods, who will accomplice Jason Day and Max Homa within the first two rounds, stated he remained in discussions about turning into Ryder Cup captain in 2025 and in addition reiterated his view that Rory McIlroy would positively win the Masters in some unspecified time in the future to finish the profession grand slam.
“No query, he’ll do it in some unspecified time in the future,” Woods stated. “Rory’s too proficient, too good. He’s going to be taking part in this occasion for a really very long time. He’ll get it executed. It’s only a matter of when.
“I feel that Rory will probably be an incredible Masters champion at some point and it might be this week. The way in which he performs the sport and the golf course matches his eye, it’s only a matter of time.”
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