Tiger Woods to make 'game-time decision' about Masters return

Tiger Woods could leave it as late as Thursday morning to make his call about playing in this week’s 86th Masters after revealing that he will make a “game-time decision”.

In a post on social media, the five-time winner revealed that a sensational return could still be on the cards in the season’s opening major.

“I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice,” wrote Woods. “It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete.”

The 46-year-old landed in Waynesboro, which is about 20 minutes from Augusta, just before 2pm, soon after patrons attending the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals had all left Augusta National.

Wearing a Georgia peach-coloured top and looking in great physical condition, Woods walked on to the practice range at 3.21pm with caddie Joe LaCava and long-time friend Rob McNamara, shaking hands with Kevin Na before starting to hit balls.

Broken up by a warm hug from BMW PGA champion Billy Horschel and chewing the fat with him, he hit 33 balls in total, including seven drivers to finish, in a warm up that lasted just under 20 minutes.

The course had been closed to the media, meaning that Woods was afforded total privacy as he headed out, starting at the tenth and likely to play just nine holes.

Woods, who also congratulated 16-year-old Anna Davis on her win in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday in his tweet, played a practice round at the Georgia venue last Tuesday.

The 15-time major champion was joined for that by his 13-year-old son Charlie and Justin Thomas, the 2017 US PGA winner.

It allowed Woods to test out his right leg, which was badly injured in a car crash in Los Angeles 13 months ago, on one of the most undulating courses in golf.

Woods last played