Tiger Woods is set to return to the US Tour this week at the Players Championship at Sawgrass, but questions remain over whether he has fully recovered full from the injuries that have kept him out of the game for almost a month.
Speaking yesterday, Woods said that the injuries sustained to his knee and Achilles were "better" although he sounded less than confident about being back to full fitness.
He picked up his
Nike Victory Red Pro Blade Irons again for the first time since the Masters on Monday, hitting a few balls at Isleworth Golf Club alongside coach Sean Foley.
However, on Tuesday he took the time to play the back nine at Sawgrass, after which he said he is in good enough form to take part in the tournament but added: "We'll see how this week progresses."
Based on previous form Woods has only managed to finish in the top ten four times at the Players Championship but that was some time ago.
His performance at the Masters sounds like an experience he would rather forget, describing it at as an event he simply had "power through" due to his injury.
Woods remains determined though and his mission as ever is to push himself to win.
"There's a lot more satisfaction over beating the best players in the world on a challenging test like this than there is to say you're ranked 'X' on the world rankings," he said.
This week the European Tour comes to Pula Golf, Mallorca and one man will be hoping that his inside knowledge of the course will give him a head start on the field.
Jose Maria Olazabal, who was involved in the redesign of this course, will be heading out with British Amateur champion Alex Larrazabal as his caddie for the Spanish Open starting on tomorrow.
Olazabal, who plays
Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls, has been out of the last few tournaments through injury and he is very much out of the running in the Race for Dubai, but he is still confident he can play well.
"I'm struggling... don't seem to find my way," Olazabal said on Tuesday. "My health is ok, not a hundred per cent but bearable. It's certainly no excuse not to play well.
"Alex knows El Prat well, he has played competitive golf and he can help me make decisions. He has a fighting spirit which keeps me going," he added.
