‘I don’t know how many more I have in me’ – Could this be Tiger Woods’ last Masters?

Two days out from the start of The Masters, Tiger Woods is returning for only the second time this season, as he continues to rehabilitate from the serious injuries he suffered in a car accident in 2021. The 47-year-old was in a sentimental mood as he gave updates on where his game was at and how his body was feeling heading into the first major of the year.

Asked whether he has ever thought about this being the last time he plays round the hallowed turf at Augusta National, Woods gave his very honest assessment.

“Yeah, I don’t know how many more I have in me,” he said.

“So just to be able to appreciate the time that I have here and cherish the memories. But still, to just look at the golf course, it looks like it’s been here for over a hundred years and hasn’t changed, and each and every year we come here, everything has changed since I first played here.”

We last saw Woods play competitively at the Genesis Invitational, an event he hosts, back in February where he set pulses racing such was his performance, making the cut as well as an impressive third round 67, but admittedly it’s the recovery that follows which is proving the real issue.

The 15-time major champion has had severe mobility issues with his right leg and foot since his accident but remains upbeat and thankful for the journey he has been on, despite the limitations it has brought.

“Yeah, mobility, it’s not where I would like it, but it’s – as I sit here, I’ve said to you guys before, I’m very lucky to have this leg; it’s mine. Yes, it had been altered and there’s some hardware in there, but it’s still mine.

“It has been tough and will always be tough. The ability and endurance of what my leg will do going forward will never be the same. I understand that.

“That’s why I can’t prepare and play as many tournaments as I like, but that’s my future, and that’s okay. I’m okay with that.”

Despite being away from the action since Genesis recovering, Woods did admit to being in more discomfort this year than last year’s Masters, with the caveat that his game is in a much better place.

“I think my game is better than it was last year at this particular time. I think my endurance is better. But it aches a little bit more than it did last year just because at that particular time when I came back, I really had not pushed it that often. I had a little window in which I did push it and was able to come back.

“Fast-forwarding, I didn’t really play a whole lot afterwards. Took a little bit to recover from the event.

“I played in February at L.A. and then took a little time off before getting ready for this. You know, I just have to be cognizant of how much I can push it. Like Rory [McIlroy] was saying, I can hit a lot of shots but the difficulty for me is going to be the walking going forward. It is what it is. I wish it could be easier. I’ve got three more years, where I get the little buggy and be out there [on the Champions Tour] with Fred but until then no buggy.”

Despite all the trials and tribulations that has dogged Wood’s Hall of Fame career, we have learnt to never write him off and the California native reminded us of his journey whilst also giving one final parting shot to the rest of the guys this week.

“I’ve certainly had my share of adversity physically and had multiple surgeries and I’ve had to come back and work through that. You know, those were tough. They were never easy. But it’s just the overall desire to win has always been there, and I’ve always worked at it and believed in what I could do.

“I’ve been stubborn and driven to come back and play at a high level. I think that has shown throughout my career and one of the reasons why I was able to — how many cuts I’ve been able to make in a row and how many tournaments I’ve been able to win over the course of my career, and that’s just hanging in there and fighting on each and every shot. It means something. Each and every shot means something.”

“Whether I’m a threat to them [the rest of the field] or not, who knows. People probably didn’t think I was a threat in 2019 [when he won] either but kind of turned out okay.”