Tiger Woods played his first 72-hole event since November 2020 at the recent Masters tournament; four-time PGA Championship winner is eyeing The 150th Open in July
Monday 2 May 2022 08:43, UK
Tiger Woods played an 18-hole practice round at Southern Hills on Thursday ahead of potentially playing in next month's PGA Championship event at the Tulsa venue.
The 15-time major champion recently made his return to action in The Masters at Augusta National, less than 14 months on from the car crash that had nearly cost him his right leg.
Woods provided encouragement that he can still compete among the best as he started strongly with an opening-round 71, before eventually ending the week in 47th place after back-to-back rounds of 78 over the weekend.
The last time the PGA Championship was held at Southern Hills was in 2007, when Woods triumphed by two shots to successfully defend the Wanamaker Trophy and win the event for the fourth time in his career, but the layout has undergone a dramatic renovation since then.
Woods reportedly played all 18 holes without a cart and with the club's head professional Cary Cozby on his bag instead of usual caddie Joe LaCava, with videos showing him wearing a compression sleeve covering his right leg.
Speaking after The Masters, Woods admitted he was unsure over his participation in Oklahoma, telling reporters: "I won't be playing a full schedule ever again, so it will just be the big events. I don't know if I will play Southern Hills or not."
Woods did, however, talk up his chances of competing at The 150th Open at St Andrews in July.
"I'm looking forward to [The Open Championship] at St Andrews," he said. "That is something that's near and dear to my heart, I've won two Opens there, it's the Home of Golf and it's my favourite golf course in the world. I will be there for that one."
Will Woods return at the PGA Championship? Watch the second men's major of the year live from May 19-22 on Sky Sports Golf!
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