Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National Sunday to begin his preparation for a similar hunt for glory at The Masters this week.
The five-time winner of the Green Jacket returned to the hallowed grounds of Augusta where he has found so much glory as he begins his quest to close in further on Jack Nicklaus’s major record.
The 48-year-old, returning to the fairways of the first time since his withdrawal from the Genesis Invitational, followed a similar formula Sunday – one that preceded his iconic triumphant comeback in 2019.
Accompanied by his caddie for the week Lance Bennett and friend and business partner Rob McNamara, Woods bypassed the practice area and headed to the putting green near the clubhouse.
The golfing icon then hit the course, spending time around the greens chipping and putting, according to Bob Harig.
Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National Sunday to begin his preparation for The Masters
Woods was accompanied by caddie Lance Bennett (L) and business partner Rob McNamara
Woods carried out a similar routine ahead of his 2019 triumph and last year before he went on to make the cut for a 23rd consecutive Masters, tying a record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples.
He has the chance to break that record if he can make it through to the weekend at Augusta this week.
However, while he snuck through to the weekend last year, Woods was ultimately forced to withdraw following the third round.
Woods was in visible pain during the wet, blustery third round at Augusta National in 2023, before pulling out ahead of the final day due to reaggravated plantar fasciitis.
He underwent surgery in April to help with the injury and kept a relatively low profile on and off the course, before making a competitive return at the Hero World Challenge.
But he also failed to play a full 72 holes at the Genesis Invitational in February when he backed out of after suffering ‘flu-like symptoms’ and entering his second round with a fever.
The 48-year-old carried out a similar routine to his 2019 and 2023 Masters preparations
The legend bypassed the practice area to head to the green near the clubhouse
Woods made a remarkable return to competitive golf at The Masters in 2022, just 14 months after a single-car crash in February 2021 almost cost him his leg.
The injuries he sustained during the accident have made walking the course a struggle with the 82-time winner on the PGA Tour limping at times.
The previous concern over Woods’ ability to play a round was not his game itself but rather the issue of walking the course due to the pain in his ankle and leg.
However, following the surgery, he revealed that walking was no longer as great a concern.
the five-time winner at Augusta National headed to the famous white clubhouse after practice
He reportedly spent time around the greens on the course, chipping and putting
He has the chance to break the cut record if he can make it through to the weekend
‘I’m not concerned at all walking it,’ he said back in November. ‘I don’t have any of the ankle pains I had with the hardware that has been placed in my foot.
‘That’s all gone, but it’s more the other parts of my body, my knee hurts, my back, the forces go somewhere else. Just like when I had my back fused, the forces got to go somewhere. It’s up the chain.
‘So as I said, I’m just as curious as with all of you what’s going to happen. I haven’t done this in a while.’
Augusta National has been a special place for Woods and his career, providing the site for not only his 2022 return but also his triumphant comeback in 2019 when he won his fifth Masters and his first major in 11 years – 15th in total.