Tiger Woods to practice at Augusta National, 'game-time decision' on playing Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods says it will be a «game-time decision» on whether he competes in the 86th Masters, which is scheduled to begin Thursday.

Woods, 46, gave the update in a tweet Sunday, writing that he would be returning to Augusta National Golf Club «to continue my preparation and practice.» Sources had told ESPN that Woods played an 18-hole practice round at Augusta National on Tuesday.

I will be heading up to Augusta today to continue my preparation and practice. It will be a game-time decision on whether I compete. Congratulations to 16-year-old Anna Davis on an amazing win at the <a href=«https://twitter.com/anwagolf?ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>@anwagolf

and good luck to all the kids in the <a href=«https://twitter.com/DriveChipPutt?ref_src=» https: www.espn.com>@DriveChipPutt.

Woods also congratulated Anna Davis, the teenager who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur on Saturday.

The five-time Masters champion has not played in more than a year after he was seriously injured in a car wreck outside Los Angeles, which nearly resulted in doctors amputating his right leg. He last competed in the final round of the 2020 Masters, which was played in November that year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Woods' return to competitive golf would come on the 25th anniversary of his first Masters victory in 1997, when he won by a record 12 shots while shooting a tournament-record 18-under-par 270 over four rounds.

It wouldn't be the first time that Woods has returned to professional golf at Augusta National. After enduring multiple knee and back surgeries, Woods won the 2019 Masters for his first major championship in 11 years.

Woods' five Masters victories are second most in history; Jack Nicklaus won the green