Tiger's fight to play in Masters excites Augusta National

AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods and the possibility of him making an incredible comeback heightened excitement at Augusta National on Monday (Apr 4) as the first official practice rounds began for the 86th Masters.

A quarter-century after Woods won his first major title by an astonishing 12 strokes at Augusta National and launched "Tigermania", the 15-time major champion is again electrifying the atmosphere at the famed course.

Woods suffered severe right leg injuries 14 months ago in a car crash, was hospitalized for weeks and unable to walk for months.

After using a cart while playing alongside son Charlie in an event last December, Woods tested his fitness to walk the hilly course last Tuesday with an 18-hole practice round at Augusta National alongside Charlie and friend Justin Thomas.

Woods had given no timetable for his return to competition, but the move hinted he felt his game was ready to contend for a sixth green jacket, which would match the career record set by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods wouldn't commit to playing even as he confirmed on Sunday he would practice more.

"It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete," Woods tweeted.

That possibility and the chance to see Woods helped draw a full crowd of spectators to Augusta National on Monday for the first time since Woods won the 2019 Masters, patrons having been barred in 2020 and allowed only in limited numbers last year due to COVID-19.

With storms in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, Monday could mark the last opportunity for Woods and other players to test themselves over the 7,510-yard, par-72 layout.

Woods played a back-nine practice round on Sunday afternoon, with some highlights of the two-hour session being tweeted out by the Masters.

Woods greeted other players