Tiger Woods says he’s ‘here to win’ at the Masters
His game overhauled, back surgically repaired, Tiger Woods was engaging and energetic in his return to Augusta National Golf Course for the 2015 Masters.
“Competing is still the same,” Woods said. “I’m here to win. The difference is, I won the Masters when Jordan (Spieth) was still in diapers. A whole generation is coming up. The game has gotten bigger.”
Woods missed the cut in one tournament and withdrew from another, posting a total of 15 over par on 47 tournament holes in 2015. Woods, who had back surgery last season, said he’s feeling older but has not lost the drive that made him a 14-time major champion.
His last major victory was the 2008 U.S. Open, and Woods’ two-month layoff raises questions about where his game will be after a 63-day absence.
“Worked my —- off — that’s the easiest way to describe it,” Woods said. “People wouldn’t understand how much work I did to get back. Sunup to sundown. When the kids were asleep, I’d be doing it. When they were at school, I’d be doing it.”
Woods said he experiences soreness in his back but knows it comes from twisting his body and has no structural issues. The muscle fatigue also came from standing over his putter for a few hours, but with his therapist on site, he was comforted not to be concerned.
Woods said he was caught between two release patterns on his shot, and only in flashes was he “dialed in.” So he took to the course on a very slow, steady progression, changing everything from his putting to chipping and adjusting his mindset off the tee.
“I’m excited, excited to be back at this level,” Woods said.
Ranked 111th in the World Golf Rankings, Woods is scheduled for a 1:48 p.m. ET Thursday tee time with Jamie Donaldson and Jimmy Walker in the first round.
Woods said his “two littles” will be on his bag for the par-3 event, which he’s playing for the first time since 2004.
“Charlie has seen me win a golf tournament before. Sam was there when I won the U.S. Open but doesn’t remember it,” Woods said.
In his relentless work to return, Woods confessed many clubs traveled great distances and he regretted not being able to play in Arnold Palmer’s event last month, which was his goal in February. In 17 career starts at the Masters, Woods has four victories and 11 top-five finishes. It’s his expectation that he will know soon if his decision to return was the right one.
“I had to have all facets of my game come around. They all have,” Woods said.
