Tiger Woods knows this Masters might be his last

AUGUSTA, Ga.—On the top of his once-stunning powers, Tiger Woods set himself aside from the remainder of golf-inclined humanity with a hypercompetitive mettle that appeared superhuman.

However 4 years since Woods authored one of many nice comebacks within the historical past of sports activities by profitable the 2019 Masters, his first main since 2008 after greater than a decade rife with private scandal and a number of again surgical procedures, Woods arrived at his twenty fifth Masters trying all too human. As soon as a cold-blooded predator who menacingly stalked fairways, the 47-year-old Woods now laboriously limps them, uncomfortably bracing for each step on the titanium-enhanced proper leg he almost misplaced in a horrific car accident in 2021.

Such was Woods’s greatness that it wasn’t so way back that the query was: What number of extra majors can he win? Now, with 15 majors to his identify, the extra practical ask appears to be: What number of extra can he credibly play?

Talking to reporters right here on Tuesday, Woods stated it’s occurred to him greater than as soon as, given the tenuousness of his scenario, that the Masters that begins Thursday could possibly be his final.

“I don’t know what number of extra I’ve in me,” Woods stated. “So, simply to have the ability to respect the time that I’ve right here and cherish the reminiscences … A lot of my life has been right here at Augusta Nationwide. Simply so excited to be again right here once more and compete and play.”

All of which was to say: The once-ageless Eldrick T. Woods is instantly getting on in age.

“I do know extra guys on the Champions Tour than I do on the common tour,” Woods quipped.

At one level he even steered he was open to the once-unfathomable chance of taking part in amongst the greybeards on the 50-and-over tour, the place the professionals bounce into the motive force’s seat of a golf cart.

“I’ve obtained three extra years (from) the place I’ll get the little buggy and be on the market with Fred ({Couples}),” Woods stated. “However till then, no buggy.”

If that’s an admission which may induce a snicker from Father Time, that’s to not say Woods doesn’t nonetheless usually defy him. If you happen to’ve watched Woods carefully this week — and he has been taking part in follow rounds going again to Sunday night time, when he dropped jaws with a wedge and a putter — you already know the arms stay magic. The swing appears to be like primed. The sport appears to be like awfully sharp. You stack all that atop Woods’s peerless information of those hallowed 18 holes and it is advisable be a joykill to not a minimum of ponder the probabilities.

However then you definitely watch Woods stroll, and also you wince.

“You already know, if he didn’t must stroll up these hills … I’d say he’d be one of many favourites,” Rory McIlroy was saying on Tuesday. “I imply, he’s obtained all of the pictures. It’s simply that bodily limitation of strolling 72 holes, particularly on a golf course as hilly as this. However once more, as everyone knows, we by no means rely Tiger out, and he can do unimaginable issues.”

Stated Woods: “I’m very fortunate to have this leg; it’s mine. Sure, it had been altered and there’s some {hardware} in there, nevertheless it’s nonetheless mine … The flexibility and endurance of what my leg will do going ahead won’t ever be the identical, I perceive that. That’s why I can’t put together and play as many tournaments as I like. However that’s my future, and that’s OK.”

In different phrases: No one doubts the pictures, the smarts, the military-trained focus. However Woods gave the impression of even he was doubting his capacity to endure the rigours of an Augusta weekend. The person who as soon as solely cared about stacking main championships hung out speaking concerning the pleasure he took within the “small victory” of merely making the reduce a 12 months in the past, simply 14 months after he ran his SUV off a California highway and improbably lived to inform about it.

“I feel my sport is best than it was final 12 months at this specific time,” he stated. “However it aches a bit of bit greater than it did final 12 months.”

The one issues Woods appeared positive about have been issues out of his management. Requested whether or not or not his good friend McIlroy will ultimately full the profession grand slam by profitable the inexperienced jacket, the one main that eludes him, Woods was unequivocal.

“He’ll. It’s only a matter of time,” Woods stated. “Rory has the expertise. He has the sport. He has all of the instruments to win right here … Loads of issues must occur to win at this golf course. Loads of issues must go proper.”

And talking of his appreciation for golf-related rewards past profitable, Woods spoke of the sort of fulfilment to which much more of golf-inclined humanity can relate.

“The enjoyment is completely different now” is how he put it. “I’ve been in a position to spend extra time with my son, and we’ve been in a position to create our personal reminiscences on the market. And share a number of the … I skilled with my dad … It’s unimaginable, the bonding and the moments that come due to this sport.”

Woods sounded virtually wistful at factors, talking of his affection for {Couples}, with whom he’s typically practised this week: “He was like my dad on tour once I first got here out right here. And to have the ability to see him at 63 years previous pumping it on the market, having a good time, it’s been the most effective.”

Possibly that’s proof of the interior peace that solely comes with becoming a member of LeBron James in a two-man membership as the one lively athletes who occur to be billionaires, in accordance with Forbes. Possibly that’s simply getting previous. No matter it was, on the matter of rolling again the ball to curb the ever-growing advances in clubhead pace and distance, Woods was authoritative whereas expressing a view that doesn’t jibe with the bulk views of apparatus makers and youthful gamers.

“I feel this could have occurred a very long time in the past,” Woods stated. “That’s what Jack (Nicklaus) was saying (years in the past) — that is again within the ’80s, however nonetheless, that was my tackle it — that the amateurs ought to be capable to have enjoyable and nonetheless hit the golf ball far, however (execs) will be regulated about how far we hit it.”

Then once more, Woods stated, the golf-ball debate might or is probably not a matter that finally considerations him.

“By the point it takes impact, I could also be lengthy gone,” he stated. “As I stated, I could also be within the buggy and off we go.”

As an all-time nice staring down his aggressive best-before date, there was one facet of a Woods press convention that sounded acquainted. Requested whether or not the present crop of would-be world quantity ones see him as a risk, Woods momentarily deserted his age-related actuality verify to remind the world exactly who was on the microphone.

“Whether or not I’m a risk or not, who is aware of?” Woods stated. “Individuals most likely didn’t suppose I used to be a risk in 2019, both. However it sort of turned out OK.”

SHARE: