Tiger Woods' Masters return stories fuelled by Augusta round

Tiger Woods, pictured in February 2022, when he last gave an update on his fitness

Tiger Woods has prompted speculation he will return to competitive action at next week's Masters by completing a practice round at Augusta.

Social media reported Woods arrived at Augusta Regional Airport on Tuesday morning before making the short journey to the home of the Masters, a tournament he has won five times - most recently in 2019.

He walked 18 holes with his son Charlie and fellow PGA Tour pro Justin Thomas, a close friend of the Woods family.

"He played every one of them," a source told ESPN. "He looked good to me."

Woods is named among 91 participants for next week's Masters but it had been thought the hilly Augusta National course might prove too demanding for the 15-times major champion.

It appears Woods used his practice round as a fitness test to see whether he will be able to make a sensational return at the first men's major of the year.

He suffered serious injuries to his right leg and right foot in the single vehicle accident on 23 February, 2021. He had open fractures in the upper and lower portions of the right tibia and fibula.

Woods subsequently said doctors nearly had to amputate his right leg.

Since the accident in the outskirts of Los Angeles, Woods has only competed in the 36-hole PNC Championship, where he partnered his 12-year-old son and rode in a buggy.

He was videoed playing in the company of his caddie Joe LaCava at the Medalist Golf Club in Florida last weekend.

"I wish I could tell you when I'm playing again," Woods said on 16 February this year, while hosting the Genesis Invitational tournament on the PGA Tour. "I want to know, but I don't. My golf activity has been very limited."

Woods added: "It takes time. What's frustrating is it's not at my timetable. I want to be at a certain place, but I'm not.

"I've just got to continue working. I'm getting better, yes. But as I said, not at the speed and rate that I would like.

"You add in the age factor, too. You just don't quite heal as fast, which is frustrating."

Woods has until next week to decide whether he will compete at the Masters.

His participation is likely to depend on how his body reacts to the rigours of playing Augusta's severely undulating 18 holes last Tuesday.