Tiger Woods look sparked Masters return hopes even | Golf News

Tiger Woods’ followers have been buzzing with hypothesis hours before it was revealed he would take part in a TGL match on Tuesday, fueling hopes of a return at the Masters next month.

Woods‘ most latest match was the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Despite present process Achilles and back surgical procedures, the 50-year-old golf legend is not prepared to retire from the game, maintaining the chance open to play at Augusta National on April 9.

His possibilities of taking part in have elevated with the announcement that he is half of the lineup for Game 2 of the TGL finals, as his Jupiter Links group goals to bounce back after shedding the opener to Los Angeles Golf Club on Monday. This marks a important step in Woods’ recovery, but there are still major questions left unanswered with the Masters just 16 days away. It comes as Woods’ response spoke volumes after a TGL heartbreak.

Rumors that Woods would make a comeback in TGL have been circulating in latest weeks, but he maintained his non-playing captain position until the lineup announcement late Monday.

However, his devoted followers seen a slight change in the 15-time major champion when he arrived at SoFi Center for Game 1. Throughout his hiatus from the sport, Woods has been sporting facial hair, including a goatee in latest weeks, but he appeared clean-shaven on Monday.

Some lovers interpreted this as an indication that he was prepared to get down to business and presumably make a comeback — Woods has been clean-shaven for most of the tournaments he is participated in — and their hypothesis was validated with the announcement that Woods will exchange Kevin Kisner in the Jupiter Links lineup for Game 2 and Game 3, if mandatory.

“Tiger Woods has arrived at TGL clean-shaven. Major Championship szn?” one social media account devoted to the five-time Masters champion posted. Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal shared related sentiments. He wrote: “Tiger’s facial hair was always pretty telling. If he showed up with that goatee, it was game over. No chance. Same thing any time he was wearing sunglasses.”

One fan commented: “Tiger’s back in business mode. Everyone else on notice,” but some dismissed the concept as ridiculous. One bluntly said: “This conspiracy is on the same level as the earth being flat and nukes not being real.”

Woods is set to play his first TGL match in 13 months, marking a important milestone in his recovery. However, 15-hole simulator golf matches are far from the rigorous problem of 72 holes at Augusta National, and his efficiency on Tuesday will present little insight into his possibilities of competing in the Masters in that respect.

He stays listed in the sector on Augusta National’s web site, but returning to aggressive golf on such a prestigious stage after 20 months away will probably be a formidable problem.

Whilst his Achilles has healed and he has made appreciable progress recovering from his disk alternative surgical procedure, the enduring penalties of his 2021 high-speed car crash persist. It is the continued discomfort and lowered mobility from that accident that are most doubtless to decide whether or not Woods competes in the Masters or not.