Dylan Bettencourt
Just 14 months after Tiger Woods suffered severe injuries in a car accident, the golfing icon feels he could win the 86th edition of the Masters.
“If I feel I can still win, I’m going to play,” Woods told reporters after a practice round at the Augusta National Golf Course on Tuesday.
When asked if he felt he could win, Woods replied: “I do.”
Last February Woods lost control of his car, causing the vehicle to roll several times and putting the golfer in hospital for several months.
The 46-year-old endured hours of surgery to repair the damage to his lower right leg and ankle.
The 15-times Major winner said he would not compete at Augusta national golf course if he did not feel he could win.
“But if I feel I can’t win, then you won’t see me out here. You guys know me better than that. I don’t show up to an event unless I think I can win it. That’s the attitude I’ve had,” he said.
The road to recovery was not easy as Woods thought it would be. He could not move for several months and was wheelchair-bound after the accident.
The golfing legend said the rehabilitation was the toughest of his career and his goal was to look forward to playing.
“I feel like I can still do it. I still have the hands to do it, the body is moving good enough. I have been in worse situations and won tournaments,” he said.
“I haven’t been in situations like this where I’ve had to walk and endure what I’m going to try. That’s going to be different,” he added.
The Masters, which Woods has won on five occasions, gets underway on Thursday and is golf’s first major tournament of the year.
Five South Africans will be competing, including Garrick Higgo, who is making his debut at the event.
Image source: @SportsIllustrated
