Tiger Woods will only play Masters if he thinks he can win it again, Butch Harmon warns Augusta field
BUTCH HARMON has warned The Masters wannabes to ‘beware the wounded big cat’— because Tiger Woods will not tee it up at Augusta unless he thinks he can win.
Woods, 46, sent the golf world into a frenzy of speculation about whether he will bid for a sixth Green Jacket this week, after flying into Augusta and playing a practice round with son Charlie and former world No 1 Justin Thomas.
That suggested a miraculous return from the horrific leg injuries he suffered in a car crash last February could be on the cards.
Yet it’s only a few months since Woods said he was limited to “hit and giggles” golf, as he lined up alongside Charlie in the Parent and Son Championship, using a golf buggy between shots.
But 78-year-old Harmon said if Woods felt his rebuilt right leg was up to the challenge of taking on Augusta’s undulating terrain, he would have to be seen as a top contender.
Harmon coached a 21-year-old Woods to the first of his 15 Major wins 25 years ago this week at the 1997 Masters — and to many other famous triumphs.
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He also insists his former pupil would never be content to just make up the numbers.
He explained: “Knowing Tiger the way I do, I really think if he doesn’t feel he can be competitive, he wouldn’t even play.
“The big concern was always going to be, ‘Can he walk the hills at Augusta?’, with that leg that was so badly injured.
“He may have answered that to himself by playing that practice round, because I understand he walked all 18 holes.
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“And the people who were lucky enough to watch some of it said he looked pretty darned good.
“Of course it’s not just one day. He’s gotta do it for four days in a tournament.
“But Tiger has always said if he does not feel he can be competitive, he wouldn’t play.
“So if he does show up and play, I think we have to believe that he thinks he can get it done. He won’t just pitch up and shoot 78-78 — that to me is not what Tiger Woods is about.”
The American needed surgery on his lower right leg, foot and ankle following his high-speed accident in Los Angeles.
Players have to confirm their places in the field for regular PGA Tour events six days before it starts.
But Masters competitors can wait until shortly before they tee off to decide whether they are fit to play and Woods is expected to keep his army of fans in suspense until the last moment.
Woods may have his eyes on equalling Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Masters wins but Harmon, now a respected Sky Sports golf pundit, believes just playing again will be one of his greatest achievements.
He added: “You’d have to say it would be up there with any of the great things he’s accomplished. I mean, just look at the state of that wrecked car he stepped out of last February. It looked terrible.
“We were happy that he lived, that was the first thing.
“And secondly, when we read about how shattered the leg was, would he ever even be able to walk and carry on a normal life?
“The one thing I will tell you about Tiger Woods — you can never say never with this guy.
“He will always prove you wrong. Nothing should ever surprise you with Tiger Woods.
Given everything he’s been through, if he made the cut and got into the hunt I think that would maybe top what he did in 2019.”
Butch Harmon
“He has this tremendous will to survive and to prosper, no matter what happens.
“And he’s very competitive in everything he does.
“I, for one, never thought he could win another tournament after he underwent four back operations to repair that busted disc, much less another Major.
“And he did come back and won the Masters for a fifth time in 2019. It’s just phenomenal.
“But given everything he’s been through in these last 14 months, if he just made the cut this week — and somehow got into the hunt again — I think that would maybe even top what he did in 2019.”
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