Jose Maria Olazabal shows Tiger Woods that Masters miracles are possible

Masters miracles are possible. Just ask Jose Maria Olazabal, who recovered from crawling across the toilet floor after being struck down by a debilitating ailment in the joints of his feet to win for a second time at Augusta National in 1999.

On that basis, the Spaniard can relate to the situation facing Tiger Woods as the five-time winner mulls over whether or not he will play in the event’s 86th edition, which starts at the Georgia venue on Thursday.

Woods, who feared his right leg would be amputated after suffering serious injuries in a single-car crash in Los Angeles 13 months ago, will make a “game-time decision” about teeing up in the season’s opening men’s major.

The 15-time major winner played nine holes after arriving in Augusta on Sunday afternoon and will gauge how he handles the undulating nature of the course over the next few days before making his call.

“I didn't think about expecting him to be here or not,” Olazabal, a winning Ryder Cup captain in 2012, told The Scotsman. “At the end of the day, he has to go through a recovery process. We will see how fully he recovers.

“I saw him as he was walking towards the 10th tee and I have to say I was really pleased for him and it's going to be great for the game of golf if he comes back.

“He's a great asset, he's a unique player, he has overcome tough situations and hopefully he will do so this time.”

Olazabal claimed his first Green Jacket in 1994, but later that same year he was struck down by the ailment that seemed likely to cripple him.

The pain gradually became intolerable and, in 1996, he took a break from the game that lasted for 18 months before returning to win again at Augusta National.

“In a way I know what he's been going through,” he added. “When