BATTLE AT AUGUSTA Tiger Woods may battle to walk around Augusta National at The Masters next month according Gary Player. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images/AFP
Image: Warren Little/Getty Images/AFP
Whether Tiger Woods plays in The Masters next month is still up in the air, but South Africa’s greatest-ever golfer Gary Player believes the 49-year-old American might not even be able to walk the course.
Woods has had so many health challenges over the last few years, especially after a serious car crash in February 2021 that badly injured his ankle. It was seen as a remarkable achievement that he could even walk normally again.
Since that accident four years ago, Woods has played in 11 tournaments and missed four cuts.
More recently, Woods had back surgery in September last year and only returned to golf in December in the father-son event PNC Championship, where he managed to walk 54 holes.
That’s been the only appearance he has made on a golf course in front of TV audiences since, and his current state of health is mostly unknown as the 15-time major winner shares few updates on his physical condition.
Woods has also suffered personal tragedy with the death of his mother, Kultida Woods, last month at the age of 80. Tiger’s father, Earl, died in back in 2006 at the age of 74. Since the death of his father, Woods has won just three of his 15 majors.
For the 89-year-old, who won nine majors himself, he's unsure that Woods is physically capable of walking around the undulating Augusta National Golf Club.
“I'm such an admirer of Tiger Woods. You know, he did what he did for golf around the world is remarkable. The same as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and a host of players,” Player told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview.
“And, but you know, Tiger Woods’s … legs, your legs are what carry you around. Your legs are what hit the ball, not your hands."
“And his legs are not in good shape. And The Masters, what people don't understand, look at that tournament. It's uphill and it's downhill and it's sidehill. And that is tough, tough on the legs."
“I don't know if he can walk around there. We hope he'll play. Everybody wants to see him play.”
Player who won three Masters titles (1961, 1974, 1978), though he rated the tournament highly, alluded to the fact that it was in fact his least favourite major.
“Well, I rate it in the top four tournaments in the world. I rate it fourth. I rate the British Open number one, the US Open number two, [then the] PGA and the Masters."
“So it's in the top four in the world. It's remarkable. It's the best-run tournament in the world. It's the most beautiful place to play, and you've got a lot of history attached to it with Bobby Jones, who is one of the greatest players ever."
“But the Masters is a very special place, very special indeed. And this will be my 67th visit to the Masters. Isn't that amazing?”
Player has also been an honorary starter at the Masters since 2011. That year was the 50th anniversary of his first Masters victory, and his young countryman Charl Schwartzel emerged victorious at the age of 26.