Tiger Woods press conference: 5-time champ talks injuries, chances to win 2024 Masters

Tiger Woods press conference: 5-time champ talks injuries, chances to win 2024 Masters

Tiger Woods likes Rory McIlroy’s chances to win see details

5-time Masters champion Tiger Woods came out confident in a press conference Tuesday to preview the 2024 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

Woods told reporters at Augusta National Golf Club he felt he was capable of winning this week despite the challenges of health and limited recent play.

“If everything comes together, I think I can get one more,” Woods said.

Woods, 48, has dealt with a litany of injury setbacks in recent years, a reality that brought questions Tuesday regarding his golf mortality.

Woods has stated that his goal was to play golf competitively once a month this season while dealing with a variety of physical ailments, including a surgically-repaired right ankle.

That goal hasn’t been met: His most recent outing ended with a withdrawal from the Genesis Invitational in late February due to back spasms.

“Every shot that’s not on the tee box is a challenge,” Woods said. “Once we start the hole it’s a bit of a challenge.”

“The body…. The things that just flare up and with the training that we have to do at home, it changes on a daily basis. Some days I feel really good, other days, not so much.”

Apr 9, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Fred Couples walks the no. 5 fairway with Tiger Woods during a practice round for the Masters Tournament golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY NetworkMore

Woods can set a Masters record this weekend by making the cut for a record 24th consecutive tournament. He’s currently tied with Gary Player and Fred Couples for the record (23).

Last year, Woods, 3-over after two rounds, needed late bogeys from Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im to move the cut line from 2-over to 3-over.

He credited his success at Augusta National Golf Club with consistency, longevity and an understanding of the course, which is the only major that’s played at the same course each year. Woods said course knowledge is what allows older players to have success, with certain putts form the 90s still rolling the same today.

“You still have to go out and execute, but there’s a lot of knowledge that goes into understanding how to play [Augusta National],” Woods said. “Every tee box and green has been changed since I first played, but the overall configuration of how they roll and move, the angles you take, that hasn’t changed.”

Woods also said his course knowledge was boosted by relationships with other players who’ve had success at the tournament. He played a practice round with Couples this week.

The Hard Rock Bet sportsbook has Tiger Woods a longshot to win the 2024 Masters Tournament. He is currently tied for 45th-best odds in the field (+15000).

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy talk with Erin Andrews during a morning media event before groundbreaking ceremony at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on February 20, 2023. It will be the future site of TGL, a new golf league played in a stadium and launched in partnership with the PGA.More

Woods gave a vote of confidence to fellow major champion Rory McIlroy in Tuesday’s press conference.

McIlroy has won the U.S. Open, Open Championship and the PGA Championship but never the Masters Tourname