Tiger Woods is set to return to Augusta this week after missing last year, and golf’s great and good are paying homage, according to CBS Sports.
Woods had been sidelined for a number of years, and many would be forgiven for thinking his career was slowly fizzling out.
At the age of 42, the veteran will try to launch himself back into major contention after years away from the brightest of spotlights.
He has won the Masters on four occasions to date and will hope to add a fifth this week to go along with his ten other majors, the last coming back in 2008 which exhibits his struggles from recent years.
Former rival and now close friend Phil Mickelson has spoken about Woods ahead of his return to Augusta:
“I think that nobody respects and appreciates what he’s done for the game more because nobody’s benefited from what he’s done for the game of golf more than I have,”
Rory McIlroy also heaped praise on him:
“For him to be able to get around this place without any fears of … it being too long or not having enough speed, yeah, anytime Tiger Woods is healthy and in this sort of form, he’s dangerous at any golf tournament,”
Justin Rose spoke of his admiration for the four time Masters winner:
“Obviously when Tiger walked onto the range today, you can tell there’s an anticipation and and excitement from the crowd to watch him compete again
