A comeback not like every other for Tiger Woods would possibly begin on the Masters.

Simply over 13 months since Woods broken his proper leg so badly he stated medical doctors thought-about amputation, Woods arrived at Augusta Nationwide on Sunday afternoon and warmed up on a variety the place there have been extra photographers than gamers.

Woods hit balls for about 20 minutes after which bought in a cart and headed to the course, which is closed Sunday afternoon to everybody besides gamers and caddies.

Already a star attraction, the hype over the five-time Masters champion is increased than ever after a violent single-car crash that regarded as if it would finish his profession.

Nonetheless to return is the choice on enjoying.

In a tweet Sunday morning saying he was coming to Augusta to renew preparations for the Masters, he stated it is going to be a “game-time resolution” whether or not he competes.

The Masters doesn’t have a agency deadline to commit like common tour occasions. It’s an invite match, and gamers usually notify the membership provided that they don’t plan to play.

Tee instances are revealed Tuesday.

“Figuring out Tiger the way in which I do know him, if he wasn’t completely like … just about really feel he has an opportunity to win, he would not tee it up,” Mark O’Meara stated. “The factor about Tiger Woods is often when everyone thinks he cannot do one thing, that is when he does it.”

If Woods decides to play — he performed 18 holes at Augusta Nationwide 5 days in the past — it could be his first competitors in opposition to the world’s greatest gamers since Nov. 15, 2020, when the Masters was moved to autumn due to the pandemic.

Photographers and media waited on the far finish of the viewing space on the vary close to the caddie home to see when he would arrive. Woods confirmed up on the opposite finish, shaking arms with defending champion Hideki Matsuyama.

Kevin Na and Billy Horschel have been amongst those that came visiting to shake arms or hug him. Additionally on the vary have been Sungjae Im, Mackenzie Hughes and Jason Kokrak. Sunday afternoon earlier than Masters week is a quiet time most years. Simply not this one.

Woods was recovering from a fifth again surgical procedure when on Feb. 23, 2021, two days after he introduced the trophy on the Genesis Invitational that he hosts at Riviera, he crashed his SUV over a median on a suburban coastal highway in Los Angeles and down the aspect of a hill.

Police estimated he was going at the very least 84 mph in a forty five mph zone.

Docs stated Woods shattered tibia and fibula bones in his proper leg in a number of areas. These have been stabilized by a rod within the tibia, whereas a mix of screws and pins have been used to stabilize extra accidents within the ankle and foot.

Woods stated he spent three months immobilized in a makeshift hospital mattress arrange in his Florida dwelling. Solely then he may begin transferring round on crutches, and finally he was capable of stroll on his personal.

Woods received the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 with a double stress fracture and torn knee ligaments in his left leg. He made it again from a scandal in his private life to grow to be No. 1 on this planet once more.

Nothing was extra superb than three years in the past at Augusta Nationwide when he received a fifth inexperienced jacket after 4 again surgical procedures that made him concern he would possibly by no means stroll once more.

That he’s even considering enjoying on this Masters is exceptional in its personal proper. If he can, questions are positive to shift as to whether he can win.

Per week earlier than Thanksgiving, he posted a three-second video hitting one shot with two phrases: Making progress. Two weeks later on the Hero World Problem within the Bahamas, a vacation occasion Woods hosts, he was on the again finish of the vary at Albany hitting drivers.

The primary massive shock got here two weeks later when he performed the PNC Problem, a 36-hole scramble on a flat Florida course. Woods was allowed to trip in a cart, a degree he made when there have been gushing observations concerning the state of his sport. He and his son completed second when John Daly and his son birdied the final gap.

“It will take quite a lot of work to get to the place I really feel I can full in opposition to these guys and be at a excessive degree,” Woods stated that day.

Addressing the situation of his proper leg in February, Woods stated it is “altered” and that “my proper leg does not seem like my left, put it that manner.”

The significance of the follow spherical final week was for Woods to verify he may stroll 18 holes on the undulating terrain of Augusta Nationwide and nonetheless be capable to get well within the days that adopted. That he was returning Sunday was a very good signal.

Can he win once more? That might be thought-about extra unbelievable than his final Masters victory.

In his final aggressive spherical at Augusta Nationwide, he made the very best rating of his profession — a ten on the par-3 twelfth gap by hitting three balls in Rae’s Creek — solely to birdie 5 of the final six, together with the final 4 in a row.