Tiger Woods Plays at Augusta; Heading to Masters?

Tiger Woods reportedly played a stellar round at the Augusta National Golf Club on March 31, spurring talks that he might be attending the Masters the following week.

USA Today reported that Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent, confirmed that Woods flew to Augusta, Georgia via his Gulfstream G5 early on Tuesday to play 18 holes. Augusta National Golf Club is the same course where he won four green jackets before. Woods played with a couple of club members, together with his caddie, Joe LaCava.

The four-time Masters Champion has not played on the PGA Tour since February 5 when he withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines due to a back problem. A week after he left, Woods said that he was going on a leave of absence to improve his game until he felt he is competitive enough to play against the top golfers in world tournaments. Woods skipped the Honda Classic and Arnold Invitational. He was also not eligible for the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

Wood stated then in a report by AJC.com, "I've put in a lot of time and work on my game and I'm making strides, but like I've said, I won't return to the PGA Tour until my game is tournament ready and I can compete at the highest level. I hope to be ready for the Masters, and I will continue to work hard preparing for Augusta."

Steinberg stated in an email, "He continues to work on the game and will advise in coming days what plan is."

Woods has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open and currently ranks No. 104. The last time he won the Masters was in 2005. Another USA Today report cited that woods only played 47 holes in 2015, 36 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and 11 at Torrey Pines. Woods has been practicing much in his home gym in Jupiter, Florida and at the Medalist Golf Club Hobe Sound. He is reportedly working with swing consultant Chris Como.

ESPN reported that Woods is not required to commit to the Masters Tournament because he is an invited player. The event has no alternate list. Augusta National Golf Club also announces its tournament groupings two days before the start of the Masters.

If Woods decides to play in the 2015 Masters, it will be his longest layoff, entering the tournament since 2010. Woods missed the 2014 Masters, which is the first time he has done so in 20 years.