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Golf world erupts over Tiger Woods announcement after Masters return

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read
Tiger Woods, pictured here announcing he will play at The Open after his return at The Masters.
Tiger Woods announced he will play at The Open in July after his return at The Masters. Image: Getty/Sky Sport

Tiger Woods has announced he will play the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July after his remarkable display at the 86th Masters.

Woods completed his astonishing return to professional golf on Sunday after suffering severe leg injuries in a car accident last year.

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However the 46-year-old finished with more struggles in the final round at the Masters, firing a second-straight six-over par 78.

They marked his highest-ever rounds at Augusta National, finishing on 13-over 301 - his highest 72-hole total at the famed course by eight strokes.

The 15-time major champion recorded his worst Masters finish in history, aside from a missed cut as an amateur in his second major.

But the fact Woods was able to walk the course and play at all was nothing short of incredible given the medical marvel was in a car accident 14 months ago and feared amputation of his right leg.

"Even a month ago, I didn't know if I could pull this off," Woods said.

"I think it's a positive. I've got some work to do. Looking forward to it."

Speaking after his final round, Woods said he was unsure about playing next month’s US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, but confirmed he will play at The Open in July.

“I won’t be playing a full schedule ever again, it’ll be just the big events,” he said.

“I am looking forward to St Andrews. That is something that is near and dear to my heart.

"I’ve won two Opens there, it’s the home of golf, it’s my favourite golf course in the world. I will be there for that one.”

Tiger Woods gets standing ovation at Masters

Woods was given a standing ovation as he walked towards the 18th green and had a huge grin on his face as he headed to Augusta National’s clubhouse.

“It was an unbelievable feeling to have the patrons and their support out there," he said.

"I was not exactly playing my best out there and to have the support, I don’t think words can really describe that given where I was and what my prospects were at that time.

“To end up here and play all four rounds, even a month ago I didn’t know if I could pull this off.

“It’s hard. I have those days where I just don’t want to do anything, it just hurts, but I have had a great team around me that are positive, that have motivated me and helped me around.

Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods, pictured here walking to the 16th green during the final round of the Masters.
Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods walk to the 16th green during the final round of the Masters. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

“There have been more tough days than easy days and I just have to work through it.

"I have put in the time and the hard part is the recovery sessions. Those ice baths really suck.”

Woods birdied the par-5 second but his missed greens in regulation led to bogeys at the fourth through seventh holes and he missed an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-5 eighth.

Another missed green led to a bogey at the 11th and at the par-5 13th, Woods put his second in the azaleas before a left-handed, backwards-club pop-out shot to the green helped him save par.

He made a 37-foot bogey putt at 14 after missing a 27-foot par putt, found pine straw left at 17 on the way to a double bogey then closed with a par as fans gave him a standing ovation.

with agencies

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