‘God, I hope so!’: Tiger Woods targets 2021 Masters after back surgery

The 45-year-old required a microdiscectomy to provide relief for a pressurised disc fragment but hopes to make it for the first major of the year

Max Homa stands with the trophy and tournament host Tiger Woods (Getty)

Tiger Woods “hopes” to make it to the final round of the 2021 Masters at Augusta National in April after providing an update on his rehabilitation after undergoing back surgery for a fifth time.

Woods, 45, has not played since the Masters last year in November when he finished in a tie for 38th defending his Green Jacket after a historic 15th major in 2019.

The 45-year-old needed a microdiscectomy to provide relief for a pressurised disc fragment last month and he will take confidence from overcoming spinal fusion surgery in 2017.

“I’m feeling fine - I’m a little stiff,” Woods said in an interview broadcast on the PGA Tour’s official Twitter feed.

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“I have one more MRI scheduled so that we’ll see if the annulus is scarred over finally and then I can start doing more activities.

“Still in the gym, still doing the mundane stuff that you have to do for rehab. The little things where I can start gravitating toward something more.”

Asked if he would be at Augusta National in seven weeks’ time, Woods replied: “God, I hope so,” before adding the results of his MRI scan would determine whether he would be able to fit in a warm-up event.

Woods congratulated Max Homa for winnings the Genesis Invitational at Pacific Palisades, which he hosts.

Homa, who beat out Tony Finau on the second hole of a play-off, admitted his delight at meeting his hero at the presentation.

“Been watching this tournament my whole life, just wow,” an emotional Homa said in his post-victory interview on Sky Sports.

“Tiger is the reason why I’m in golf. I saw Tiger the other day but I was scared to talk to him, now he is forced to talk to me.

“I have a game that fits difficult golf courses. I think this is the best golf course in the world. I hope this is just the beginning.”

PA contributed to this report