AUGUSTA, Ga. — The early reports from Tiger Woods’ Monday practice round at Augusta National Golf Club ahead of the 88th Masters Tournament were good.
The five-time Masters champion landed in Augusta on Sunday afternoon and played a Monday morning practice round with Will Zalatoris. Woods withdrew from the 2023 Masters after making the cut due to a plantar fasciitis flare-up.
“He played great today,” Zalatoris said. “He outdrove me a couple times so there was some chirping going on. So, you know, he looks great. He’s moving as well as he can be. Again, with everything he’s gone through, it’s pretty amazing to see how good he’s swinging it.”
The 48-year-old is looking for a record 24th made cut, which would put him alone for the most all-time. He’s currently tied with Fred Couples and Gary Player with 23.
“You could just sit there and analyze the same stats for his entire career and put him in five different buckets and every one of them is never going to be broken,” Zalatoris said.
Woods is scheduled to speak to the press at 11 a.m. ET Tuesday.
Woods has only played one full round on the PGA Tour in 2024, at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles. He had to withdraw in the second round due to flu-like symptoms.
Longtime friend and college teammate Notah Begay also openly discussed Woods’ health recently after the two spoke at the junior tournament Begay sponsors, and in which Woods’ son, Charlie, participated.
Begay said that Woods’ lower-leg injuries have resulted in “zero mobility” in his ankle, making it more difficult for him to play over longer periods of time. Augusta National is known as one of the most difficult walking course in men’s professional golf because of the severe slopes and length of the course.
Woods did play 72 holes late in 2023 at the Hero World Challenge, but has not done so in a full-field event since the 2022 Masters.
