“I am a walking miracle” says Tiger Woods

As he prepares to play in his first Masters since 2015, Tiger Woods says he feels like he has been given “a second chance at life” after overcoming the back injuries that threatened to end his career prematurely

In an interview on his own website, Woods, 42, says that he is excited to play at Augusta National next week and that he is going there with the intention of winning a fifth green jacket.

Such a prospect would have been dismissed as fanciful even just a few short months ago, with the former world No.1 struggling to recover his fitness following spinal fusion surgery last year.

However, having made an encouraging start to the season – with three consecutive top 15 finishes in his last three starts – Woods is now rated as the man to beat at Augusta by several leading bookmakers.

“I got a second chance on life,” he told Mark Soltau. “I am a walking miracle.