Golf-Woods ‘a little nervous’ about returning to the Masters (Reuters)
March 22, 2010
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
INDIAN WELLS, California, March 21 (Reuters) – Scandal-hitTiger Woods is apprehensive about the reception he will getfrom the fans at next month’s U.S. Masters when he returns tothe PGA Tour from self-imposed exile.
The American world number one has not competed since hisvictory at the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, following hisstunning fall from grace amid tawdry revelations about hisextra-marital affairs.
Last week, however, Woods announced he would be making hiscomeback at the April 8-11 Masters, the opening major of theyear and an event he has won four times before at one of hisfavourite venues.
“I don’t know. I’m a little nervous about that to be honestwith you,” he said on Sunday about his return to the genteelsurrounds of Augusta National where media numbers and theallocation of tickets for spectators are tightly controlled.
“It would be nice to hear a couple of claps here and there.But I also hope they clap for birdies, too.
“Playing is one thing,” added Woods, who finally facedquestions from the media in two five-minute interviews with theGolf Channel and ESPN. “I’m excited to get back and play.
“I’m excited to get to see the guys again. I really miss alot of my friends out there. I miss competing.
“But I still have a lot more treatment to do and justbecause I’m playing, doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop going totreatment. I will have more treatment, more therapy sessions.”
UNCERTAIN SCHEDULE
Woods, who has been trying to salvage his marriage to hisSwedish wife Elin, said his playing schedule for the rest ofthis year remained uncertain.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” added the 14-timesmajor champion who was sidelined for eight months until lastFebruary while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.
“Last year I didn’t know because of my knee; it was stilluncertain. And this year, with all the things that I’ve done Idon’t know what I’ll be doing either.
“That to me is a little bit bothersome, too, in a sensethat I don’t like not knowing what to do, but what I know Ihave to do is become a better person and that begins with goingto more treatment.”
Woods, who became engulfed in a media frenzy following abizarre early-morning car crash outside his Florida home onNov. 27, said he had not been ready to return to the PGA Tourany earlier than the Masters.
Earlier this month, there had been widespread speculationhe would come back for next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitationalor the private Tavistock Cup, both near his home in Orlando.
“I wasn’t ready to play in Tavistock or play in Bay Hill,”Woods said. “I started too late with my preparation. (Coach)Hank (Haney) and I are starting to work now and start to get itgoing.
“I’m starting to get my feel back. I know how to play thegolf course and that helps a lot,” he added referring toAugusta National. “I just got to play it.”
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Tee it up with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf 10