Fred Couples optimistic Tiger Woods will play in Masters after their practice round at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Georgia — Just after Tiger Woods made his way to the putting practice area near the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday, two security guards tried to clear a path through the patrons.

«Excuse us, a player is coming through,» one of the security guards said.

It was defending Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama — and hardly anyone noticed him among the thousands of fans surrounding the putting green and No. 1 tee box.

Woods, a five-time Masters champion, was the center of attention during Monday's practice rounds. The 15-time major champion hasn't played in a PGA Tour event in more than 17 months, after suffering serious injuries in a February 2021 car wreck. He told reporters in December that doctors nearly amputated his right leg.

During his practice round with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples on Monday, patrons might have hardly noticed Woods' very slight limp, which is more like a hitch in his step, if they didn't know about his previous injuries. The threesome played the first nine holes in a little more than two and a half hours.

«He's kind of a tough guy,» Couples said. «He's never going to let you know he's in pain. He looked good walking. You can always be in pain, but to hit it like that, now it's just the walking part. If he can walk around here for 72 holes, he'll contend. He's too good.»

Barring a setback over the next couple of days, Couples, one of Woods' closest friends, believes Woods will play when the 86th Masters begins on Thursday.

«I hope everything keeps going Tuesday and Wednesday, and I'm sure he's going to tee it up Thursday,» Couples said.

Golf fans are certainly excited to see Woods back on the course. When Woods hit his drive on the first hole on Monday, there were thousands