Jocular Tiger Woods serious about Masters mission as he explains why he's not wearing Nike shoes

Tiger Woods even cracks jokes these days. “Everyones loves Freddie - that’s why they all came out,” he quipped of Fred Couples, who, along with Justin Thomas, had played nine holes with Woods on Monday in front of a small army of Masters patrons.

The 15-time major winner, who used to be as straight-faced as they come, especially in the peak of his career, indulged in more humour when, during a press conference ahead of this week’s opening men’s major of the season, he was asked if it would be uphill, downhill or side hill lies that would be more troublesome to him at undulating Augusta National. “All,” he replied to that to a chorus of laughter in the Press Building.

Even despite fearing that his right leg might be amputated following a serious car crash in Los Angeles around 14 months ago and not having played in a PGA Tour event since then, some things haven’t changed, though, when it comes to the 46-year-old.

“I don't show up to an event unless I think I can win it,” he declared, something, in fairness, that has remained consistent in his career, having been in a similar situation before following surgeries to his knees and back. “There will be a day when it won't happen, and I'll know when that is.” Not just yet, though.

The majority of people seem excited about Woods teeing up again this week, but, at the same time, some have got hot under the collar about him having been the only story in town in the countdown to the event’s 86th edition.

Those scoffing about him should remember that he’s proved us all wrong in the past and, on that basis alone, is capable of doing it again, even in the face of a new level of adversity, even by his standards.

“It's been a tough, tough year and a lot of stuff that I had to deal with