Tiger sighting at Augusta; Lauren Walsh all set for ANWA
Masters champion Tiger Woods plays his stroke from the No. 12 tee during Practice Round 2 for the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Monday, November 9, 2020.
TIGER WOODS mania is in full swing for the Masters after the five-time champion jetted into Augusta yesterday and headed to the course for a practice round.
More than a practice round, it can be considered a fitness test of Woods' ability to handle one of the hilliest courses in the game, just 14 months after suffering severe leg injuries in a car crash.
Sports Illustrated reported Woods arrived at the course yesterday morning with his son Charlie and close family friend Justin Thomas for a practice round that will tell the six-time champion if his body can handle 160 feet of elevation changes at the 365-acre venue.
There has been speculation that Woods is preparing to make his comeback at the Masters since he was spotted playing practise rounds in the company of his caddie Joe LaCava at Medalist last week.
The Tiger-fever started when his Gulfstream 5 took off from an airport near his Florida home yesterday and touched down at Bush Field in Augusta.
Woods insisted last month that he faced a long road back to competitive golf, having suffered multiple leg injuries, including a shattered ankle and two leg fractures in February 2021.
He finished second with his son in December's PNC Championship using a golf cart and struggling at times to walk, insisting he was a long way from being ready to compete on tour.
"I don't have the endurance," he said in December. "My leg is not quite right yet and it's going to take time."
Woods doesn't just want to amble around Augusta National, he wants to compete.
"I don't want to come out here and just play," he said at last month's Genesis Invitational. "That's how I am. I need to feel that I'm confident that I can beat these guys, and I got to do the legwork at home. It's on me."
He will be at Augusta National for the Champions Dinner next Tuesday and can wait until next week before deciding about playing.
“I am incredibly excited for the week ahead!”
As Rory McIlroy prepares his Masters warm-up at the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio, where Graeme McDowell must win to secure his ticket to Augusta, world number 26 Lauren Walsh is looking forward to playing the Masters course this week.
The Curtis Cup star from Castlewarden (21) in Co Kildare tees it up in the Augusta National Women's Amateur today.
She must finish in the top 30 after two rounds at Champions Retreat near Augusta to qualify for the final round at Augusta National on Saturday.
While the entire 72-strong field will get to play a practice round at the Masters venue on Friday, Wake Forest star Walsh wants to compete there.
“I am incredibly excited for the week ahead!” said Walsh, who will play with Americans Alexa Pana and Crystal Wang in the first two rounds at Champions Retreat (8,.54 am local time/13:54 Irish time today.
“To have the opportunity to play Augusta National is the stuff of dreams and it’s even more special having my family, friends and coach Shane here for the week. It’s an amazing experience and the main thing for me this week is to have fun out there and enjoy the week with all my friends and family supporting here too!”
She added: "It's a cool opportunity to get the chance to play, but nothing will be more special than getting the chance to compete around Augusta.
"The first goal is playing two solid rounds around Champions Retreat and hopefully making the cut to the top-30."
Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow play the opening women's major of the season, the Chevron Championship at Mission Hills in California from tomorrow.
Maguire will begin her quest for her first major championship from the 10th on Thursday with Jessica Korda at 16.19 Irish time (08.19 am local time) while Meadow will go off the same tee at 2031 (12.21 pm local time) with Emma Talley. Tee times.
Ireland's top amateurs compete in the European Nations Championship at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande from today with men's and women's teams in action for the first time.
Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin), Robert Moran (Castle), Liam Nolan (Galway) and Peter O'Keeffe (Douglas) will represent the men's team while Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle), Kate Lanigan (Hermitage) and Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) form the women's team.
