AUGUSTA, Georgia — Tiger Woods played a practice round Tuesday at Augusta National, a strong indication that the four-time champion could make his return at the Masters. Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports Management, confirmed in an email to the Associated Press that Woods played 18 holes. Still to be determined is whether he returns for the Masters next week. Woods has not played since he withdrew at Torrey Pines on Feb. 5 after 11 holes because of tightness in his back. A week later, he said he would return to competition when his form had returned. “My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf,” Woods said in a statement on Feb. 11. “Like I've said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I'm ready, I'll be back.” He has missed the Honda Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational since the statement. Woods could make an announcement about his Masters plans this week, though it is not necessary. Unlike a regular PGA Tour event, players with a Masters invitation only have to register before they tee off in the opening round on April 9. It would be unlike Woods to do that. Instead, he likely would inform the club of his plans before Sunday. The Augusta Chronicle first reported that Woods was in town after a plane matching the tail number of his Gulfstream G5 was parked at the terminal for private aircraft at Augusta Regional Airport. Woods has dropped to No. 104 in the world, his lowest ranking since 1996, just before his first pro victory. Next week, Woods would be playing his first major since turning 39 last December. No player has won more than three major titles beyond his 39th birthday. Since the start of last year, Woods has played in only 10 events and completed 72 holes only three times, one of those last December at his Hero World Challenge charity event where there was no cut. He has not recorded a top-10 finish since the end of 2013. And his limited golf this year has been the worst of his career. Woods shot 82 in the Phoenix Open when he missed the cut. He hit standard chips that didn't reach the green or sailed 30 yards long during the 47 holes he has played this year. Woods played in the 2010 Masters without having competed in nearly five months. He tied for fourth that year, though he was No. 1 in the world and his previous tournament was a victory in the Australian Masters. With Augusta National's trademark undulating greens a formidable hurdle for those with poor approaches, Woods would need to have solved that trouble to have a strong chance at being competitive for a fifth career Masters title. But Woods knows Augusta National well, having finished no worse than fourth in seven of his past nine Masters starts. — Agencies
