Tiger Woods: I don’t know how many more Masters I’ll play

Tiger Woods has admitted he doesn’t know how many more times he’ll be able to play in The Masters

Woods, 47, makes his 25th competitive appearance at Augusta National this week. It is, however, only his second start of 2023 and just his fourth tour appearance since last year’s tournament.  

The 15-time major champion’s physical limitations are, by now, well documented. Last year’s Masters was his first competitive start since a horror car crash 14 months earlier from which he was lucky to survive. 

Speaking to the media ahead of this week’s tournament, the five-time champion conceded that the window is closing fast on his remarkable career.

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“Last year, I didn’t know if I was going to play again at that time,” said Woods. “For some reason everything kind of came together and I pushed it a little bit and I was able to make the cut, which was nice.

“I don’t know how many more I have in me. I’m just able to appreciate the time that I have here and cherish the memories.”

The 2019 champion finished tied for 45th on his most recent start at the Genesis Invitational two months ago.

By the end of the week, he was limping heavily and, despite several weeks of rehab since then, he admits his mobility is not where he’d like it to be coming into The Masters.

“I’ve said to you guys before, I’m very lucky to have this leg; it’s mine. Yes, it had been altered and there’s some hardware in there, but it’s still mine. It has been tough and will always be tough. The ability and endurance of what my leg will do going forward will never be the same. I understand that.

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“That’s why I can’t prepare and play as many tournaments as I like, but that’s my future, and that’s okay. I’m okay with that.

“I haven’t played that much, no. But if there’s any one golf course that I can come back, like I did last year, it’s here, just because I know the golf course.

“Bernhard [Langer] is still able to compete here, Fred [Couples] is still able to compete here. They’re older guys who understand how to play this particular golf course. It helps. And hopefully it will help me this week.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor