Golf legend Tiger Woods looks set to play in the 2022 Masters only 14 months after suffering life-threatening injuries in a car accident. Woods confirmed at a news conference in Augusta that he would play nine holes on Wednesday before confirming whether or not he will attempt to win his sixth Masters title.
Woods was involved in a serious car accident in California on February 23, 2021. He was the sole occupant of the Genesis GV80 SUV when he lost control and left the road, resulting in the car rolling over several times. The accident destroyed the front of Woods’ vehicle, but the interior remained intact, which probably saved his life. In the crash, Woods suffered severe compound fractures in both legs, with doctors considering amputating one of his legs at one stage. Thankfully, Woods has recovered from his ordeal and is ready to battle at Augusta in the 2022 Masters if his body allows.
Woods Won The Masters in 2019
The five-time Masters champion initially thought the Augusta course’s hilly terrain would be too challenging at this stage of his recovery. Still, he managed to play 18 holes last week, a few more on Sunday, and another nine holes on Monday with 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples and Justin Thomas. Should Woods confirm his intention to play in the 2022 Masters, it will have people clambering for the best sportsbook bonus online, hoping he repeats the miraculous showing at the 2019 Masters.
Woods won the 2019 Masters ending an 11-year drought in major championships. He was aged 43-years-old at the time, making him the second-oldest winner of the Masters behind the legendary Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won in 1986. Nicklaus won the Masters six times during his illustrious career, one more than Woods. Journalists asked Woods if he thought he could equal Nicklaus’ record, to which he replied, “I do. I don’t show up to an event unless I think I can win it.”
Fully recovered from his injuries or not, Woods is one of the outsiders to win the 2022 Masters, not least because the Hall of Famer is now 46-years-old, making him one of the older competitors in the field. In addition, Woods’ best years are behind him, although he can still compete at a high level, just perhaps not as high as some of the front runners for glory at Augusta this year.
Jon Rahm Favorite For 2022 Masters Glory
Spain’s Jon Rahm is the name on everyone’s lips right now. Rahm is 19 years Woods’ junior yet has already racked up an impressive 13 professional wins, including the fiercely contested 2021 U.S. Open, where he defeated South African star Louis Oosthuizen by one stoke while shooting six-under-par. This will be Rahm’s sixth Masters; he has finished in the top ten in four of his previous five attempts. He tied 27th in 2017 before finishing fourth, tied ninth, tied seventh, then finishing fifth in 2021. This could and should be the year Rahm gets the job done.
One of Woods’ recent golf partners, Justin Thomas, is another player gunning for Masters glory. Thomas is full of confidence after winning The Players Championship in March 2021. However, his record in the Masters is less than stellar, with only one top-ten finish in six attempts, that being a fourth-place finish in 2020.
Golf lovers do not have long to wait to see if Woods does pick up his clubs and compete at Augusta because the 2022 Masters runs from April 7-10. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is the reigning Masters champion. Matsuyama is looking to become only the fourth golfer in history to win back-to-back Masters title. Woods is one of those who have achieved that feat.