Tiger Woods Masters press conference: Live news, updates about golfer’s health ahead of 2024 major

By | April 9, 2024
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The 88th Masters Tournament is set to begin Thursday, as 89 of the world’s best golfers will compete to win the coveted green jacket.

Tiger Woods is expected to be among those participating in the tournament. The 48-year-old has played in just one PGA Tour event this season — the Genesis Invitational, from which he had to withdraw with illness — but he doesn’t want to miss a chance to tee off at the Masters for a 26th time.

Woods participated in the Masters in 2023 but couldn’t finish the tournament because of a nagging leg injury. The former World No. 1 golfer is still dealing with complications from a February 2021 car accident that left him with significant injuries in his left leg and ankle.

MORE: Who will win the Masters in 2024?

It is remarkable that Woods returned to the golf course at all. He detailed that doctors considered amputating his leg because of the injuries.

Nonetheless, the injuries have complicated golf for the five-time Masters champion, as his former Stanford teammate turned TV commentator Notah Begay III explained.

“He’s trying to formulate a strategy and approach that he can work within given the constraints that he’s presented with — and he’s got some constraints,” Begay said, per ESPN. “He’s got zero mobility in that left ankle and really has low-back challenges now, which he knew he was going to have.”

Those injury issues — and the litany of setbacks Woods has endured — have made it hard for him to remain on the course.

That’s why his pre-Masters press conference will be so important. While it’s expected he will announce that he intends to play, it isn’t clear whether he is dealing with any lingering injury issues or new complications arising during his preparation for the major.

Sporting News followed Woods’ press conference live as he updates fans about his health, preparedness for the Masters and what the future holds for the all-time great.

MORE: Ranking the 30 best golfers in the Masters field

Tiger Woods Masters press conference

11:32 a.m. — Woods is now exiting the interview room after about 25 minutes of talking about his health, desire to continue playing golf and his love for Augusta. 

11:30 a.m. — “I hurt every day,” Wood said. “I ache every day. I prefer warm, humid and hot.”

11:28 a.m. — “I haven’t gotten to that point where I think I can’t,” he said in response to dealing with his own golf mortality. 

11:25 a.m. — “If everything comes together, I think I can get one more,” Woods said when asked about expectations for this week. 

11:24 a.m. — “The ankle doesn’t hurt anymore,” he said. “It’s fused, that’s not going anywhere. It’s other parts of my body that now have to take the brunt of it. The back, the knee, other parts of the body.”

11:22 a.m. — “Somedays I just feel really good and somedays not so much,” Woods said about his health and training. 

11:20 a.m. — When asked about captaining the Ryder Cup team, Woods said that he plans to discuss the possibility after the Masters. 

11:15 a.m. — “Every shot that isn’t on the tee box is a challenge,” Woods says about his health. 

11:13 a.m. — “My body wasn’t ready,” said about his lack of playing in recent history. “My game wasn’t ready.” He adds that hopefully the once a month plan to play kicks in with one major every month going forward. 

11:10 a.m. — Woods says he keeps coming back because the tournament means so much to him, “To have won here, my first major as a pro, hugging my dad, then full circle in ’19 hugging my son. it’s meant a lot to my family and it’s meant a lot to me.”

11:08 a.m. — He opens by addressing a little about his health, saying he doesn’t have the bulkhead to practice on the range anymore.  

11:06 a.m. — Woods has arrived in the interview room and we are ready to rock and roll from Augusta. 

10:50 a.m. — We are expected to hear from Woods in about ten minutes, who is expected to address his health and more during this presser. 

10:40 a.m. — While Woods is certainly on the back nine of his career, it was only five short years ago that he captured the coveted green jacket for the fifth time. 

10:30 a.m. — Woods’ return to Augusta comes with a little bit of added pressure, knowing that he’s never missed a cut at the Masters as a professional. 

10:20 a.m. — Will Zalatoris, who is also returning to the Masters after an injury, says Woods “looks great” and is, “moving as well as he can be.”

10:10 a.m. — Woods is expected to meet with the media at the top of the hour, so there’s some time to explore the latest and greatest in the world of the golf legend. Here’s an update from ESPN’s Jeff Darlington.

How to watch Tiger Woods’ Masters press conference

Golf Channel’s “Live From the Masters” airs daily Masters week, covering all press conferences live Monday-Wednesday. Tiger Woods’ Masters press conference is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday. 

SN’s Jacob Camenker contributed to this report.

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