AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods sounds more wistful by the day.
He’s 47 years old and is four years removed from his last major championship victory, which happened to be his last Masters victory and his last win of any kind.
Woods, in his Tuesday meeting with reporters at Augusta National, sounded like he’s getting ever so close to becoming a ceremonial Masters player like the game’s legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus eventually did once they knew they could no longer compete to win.
But Woods, whose 2019 Masters victory was his 15th major championship and fifth green jacket, is at Augusta National this week to compete in his 25th Masters — albeit with more physical limitations than he’s ever had.
Because of the injuries he sustained to his right leg in his February 2021 car crash in Los Angeles, as well as his lingering back problems, Woods enters this week having competed in just one official PGA Tour event in more than seven months, his tie for 45th in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in February.
“With the accident, it’s been a tough road, and to be able to come back here and play at Augusta National is an appreciation,” Woods said Tuesday. “It’s such a special place. It means so much to me in my heart of come here and play with all the memories I’ve had here. So much of my life has been here at Augusta National. I’m just excited to be able to be here and compete and play.
“This tournament has meant so much to me on my life. I’ve had so many great memories here.”
Woods, assessing his physical limitations resulting from the comminuted open fractures to both the tibia and fibula in his right leg after losing control of his SUV that morning in L.A., said, “Mobility is not where I would like it, but I’m very lucky to have this leg. Yes, the leg has been altered and there is some hardware in there, but it’s still mine.
“It has been tough and it always will be tough. It will never be the same. That’s why I can’t practice and play as much as I’d like. But that’s my future and I’m OK with that.”
Woods, who chipped and putted on Sunday, played a practice round on Monday with Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy and Tom Kim.
He was going to play with Couples and Justin Thomas on Tuesday.
“He looks good,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “If he didn’t have to walk up these hills and have all of that I’d say he’d be one of the favorites. I mean, he’s got all of the shots. It’s just that physical limitation of walking 72 holes, especially on a golf course as hilly as this.
“But, as we all know we never count Tiger out, and he can do incredible things. But you know, you watch him on the range and you watch him hit chips and putts, and he’s got all the aspects of the game that you need to succeed around this place. It’s just the toll it takes on his body to compete over 72 holes.”
Woods said, “My game is better than it was last year at this particular time. My endurance is better, but it aches a little more than it did last year, because when I came back last year, I hadn’t pushed it that often.
“I just have to be cognizant of how much I can push it. I can hit a lot of shots, but the difficulty for me is going to be the walking going forward. I wish it would be easier.”
Woods then offered a read-between-the-lines glimpse at his future, referring to playing on the Champions Tour with use of a golf cart when he joked, “I get three more years before I get the little buggy with Fred. But until then, no buggy.”
Woods has dealt with a tumultuous period of time off the course of late, ending his six-year relationship with girlfriend Eric Herman in a personal battle that has reportedly been about money.
Herman had become a fixture in Woods’ life, present at golf tournaments he played and around town with his two children.
She was waiting for Woods at the 18th green with Woods’ mother, Tida, and his two kids when Woods clinched that 2019 Masters.
Woods made his official return to competitive golf at the 2022 Masters, which was his first start in 508 days after the car crash.
He finished 47th after consecutive 6-over 78s on the weekend, which were his worst scores at the Masters.
“I didn’t win the tournament, but for me to be able to come back and play was a small victory in itself,” Woods said of the 2022 Masters. “I didn’t get the W, but I got my own smaller version of that to be able to play.”
Asked if it has crossed his mind that this might be the last Masters he plays as a true competitor, Woods said, “Yes it has. Last year was kind of … I didn’t know if I was going to play again at the time. I don’t know how many more I have in me, so to be able to play (this year) I’m going to cherish the memories and appreciate the time I have here.”
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