BREAKING!! “Tiger Woods Likely to Start Masters After Augusta Practice”
Tiger Woods is on the verge of making a highly anticipated return to The Masters, with recent reports indicating his involvement in a practice round at Augusta over the weekend. While Woods has been listed on official starting lists, a customary practice for exempt golfers, doubts emerged after his withdrawal from the LA Open in February, marking his first official event in nearly a year since the 2021 car accident that threatened his right leg.
However, his participation in a preparatory round at Augusta suggests readiness to reenter the competitive arena where he first dazzled at the age of 21 with a 12-stroke victory 27 years ago. This historic win was later overshadowed by his remarkable comeback triumph at the 2019 Masters following a spinal fusion surgery.
Despite enduring catastrophic injuries since then, Woods’ competitiveness remains a topic of debate. With only five events played since his surgery, he managed to make the cut at last year’s Masters but was forced to retire during the third round.
Recent reports disclosed Woods playing alongside Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Thomas on Saturday, adding fuel to speculation about his Masters appearance. Should he compete and make the cut, Woods would set a record-breaking 25th appearance, surpassing Gary Player and Fred Couples. Notably, he has missed the cut only once, in 1996, a year before turning professional.
In other golf news, the DP World Tour witnessed Keita Nakajima securing his maiden victory at the Hero Indian Open. The Japanese player, heralded as one of the game’s rising stars, clinched the Japan Golf Tour order of merit in his debut full professional season after spending a record 87 weeks atop the amateur rankings.
Despite a late stumble with four dropped shots in the final five holes, Nakajima maintained a comfortable lead to finish at 17 under, claiming a four-shot victory over competitors Veer Ahlawat, Sebastian Soderberg, and Johannes Veerman. This triumph marks his fifth win, achieved in just his 11th appearance on the DP World Tour.
Nakajima’s ambition extends to securing one of the 10 cards available on the US PGA Tour via the Race to Dubai order of merit, following his ascent to 13th in the rankings with this latest victory. Expressing his aspirations, Nakajima aims to transition to the PGA Tour in 2025, reflecting on his pride in winning on the DP World Tour in his inaugural season.
