Masters 2018: tiger woods handed subtle boost ahead of augusta
- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN
Play all audios:
Tiger Mania is building ahead of the first major of this year and he is among the bookies’ favourites to win the green jacket. The 42-year-old looks close to his best form since returning to
full fitness from fusion surgery last year. Woods has only missed the cut once in five events this season and was in contention to win at his last two tournaments; Valspar and the Arnold
Palmer Invitational respectively. Now his full focus is on returning to Augusta National for the first time since 2015, the scene of his first ever major 21 years ago. And Woods has been
handed a promising omen heading into the tournament. The Masters tournament have confirmed there will be no more than 87 players competing at Augusta. Brooks Koepka, the reigning US Open
champion, has pulled out of the competition to recover from a wrist injury. That means the field currently stands at 86, although that could increase this week if the winner of the Houston
Open is not already eligible. If the field remains at 86, it will be the smallest for the opening men’s major of the season this decade. The last time there were just 86 players competing at
the Masters was back in 1997 - when Woods won at Augusta by 12 strokes for his first of four green jackets.