By Golf fans across the world have one wish for the PGA’s most prestigious tournament in a couple of weeks. And that is for Eldrick “Tiger” Woods to compete with the game’s best at Augusta National Golf Club. It has been a little over a year since Tiger was in the near fatal car crash that left him with broken bones and compound fractures in both of his legs. After it was deemed possible that Tiger was going to be able to walk again, the quest for his return to the game that he loved had started. There have been little to no updates on his status, leaving the golf community holding their breath in anticipation of his full return. However, all this has changed in the last several days and there is a rising belief that Tiger may actually come back. All we can do is hope.
Why People Think Tiger Is Coming Back?
Masters Website
The Masters is golf’s biggest tournament, so its hype and following are also the biggest in the sport. Some fans were keeping tabs on the listed participants on The Masters’ website to see what the field was looking like. As fans scrolled down the list there was a big surprise. Tiger Woods was listed.
The social media world blew this information up and people started to speculate about its legitimacy. The website is the official website so a bulk of it was that it was true. But, plenty of people had the concern about golf’s biggest star making his return after over a year-long absence with no official announcement? Well, on Tuesday (March 29th) this conversation only intensified. And for good reason, I may add.
Tiger in Augusta?
The Jet
The golf fan internet detectives (I do not know what to call them) were in full effect on Twitter Tuesday morning. A Twitter account titled “Radar Spots” tracks planes of potential famous people and it reported a jet that was similar to Tiger’s Not only that, but it was flying out of Jupiter, where Tiger lives, and was circling around Augusta, Georgia. Now, what can seem to be a coincidence, can equally seem to be Tiger Woods flying private to Augusta. Golf fans were keeping their pulse on any more reports about the 46 year old golfer. They did not have to wait long.
Visual Confirmation
Tiger was spotted by a number of sources Tuesday at Augusta National Golf Club. He was reportedly there to play a practice round on the notorious course to try and assess his overall status. The tournament is next weekend, so he has just a little bit of time to figure out if he is in the proper condition to compete for his 6th green jacket.
Evaluating Tiger’s Situation
Tiger was in the car accident that significantly injured both his legs in February of 2021. Tiger was able to compete in the PNC Championship in mid-December of 2021. The PNC Championship sees PGA and LPGA golfers team up with a relative and compete. Tiger was able to compete with his then 12-year-old son Charlie and the whole golf world had their eyes on them. The duo was able to finish in second place at -25 in the tournament. Tiger looked good, but there were no other talks of when Tiger may be competing next.
Now, Tiger did compete in the PNC Championship, but that is not The Masters. It is a PGA tournament, but the intensity is nowhere even close to that of The Masters. Pair that with the notable hilliness and general terrain of Augusta National and it is bound to take a larger toll on your body. There is no immediate rush for Tiger to play. He would hate to suffer an unnecessary, avoidable setback that just delays his return to play even longer than what it already is.
Tiger is widely-known to be a stiff competitor. He is currently just one green jacket shy of tying Jack Nicklaus for the record. This may be a little added fuel to try and get out there next weekend. However, he is only 46. If his reoccurring back injury is not enough, it would be tragic if his legs also become a reoccurring issue. I think Tuesday’s round at Augusta and any more he plays this week will speak largely on whether or not he will be able to return to competition.
His Masters win in 2019 is probably my favorite golf moment that I have ever witnessed. I want nothing more than for Tiger to show he still has golf left in the tank on the game’s biggest stage. I also want nothing more than to see Tiger compete for years to come. Keep an eye out for any updates on his status, and let’s hope Tiger Woods returns to golf next weekend at The 86th Masters Tournament.
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