Tiger like a caged animal as Masters week passes him by

“I’ve been able to train a lot. I’ve been able to get my body back to where I think it should be at.”

Woods has not competed since hosting the Genesis Invitational that ended on February 23rd but does admit he feels he would have been ready for this week’s Masters despite playing just two events since his successful player/captaincy Presidents Cup role last December in Melbourne, Australia.

Woods was asked how he was coping being forced to stay at home during the crisis that’s gripped the globe.

“It’s hard to unwire those circuits now. I feel a little edgy. I want to get out there. I want to compete,” he said.

“I felt really alive and wired and kind of irritable. I didn’t know what was going on. I realized it was Sunday and I was supposed to be flying up.

“Subconsciously, I had already known I was supposed to be getting ready to go to be playing at the Masters this week. My body was ready to go.”

Woods revealed also he’s bee able to play at his ‘home’ Medalist Club that surprisingly remains open and this despite the local Palm Beach County calling for the closure of all private clubs.

“I’ve been able to play some golf,” said Woods.

“Medalist is still open here. Every course virtually to the south of us is closed but it remains open so it has been nice to go out there and play and hit golf balls a little bit… just get some activity and some peace of mind.

“But it’s weird practicing with no end goal to get ready for. Hypothetically it could be this. Hypothetically it could be that. It seems like it changes from day to day. Week to week there’s always something new.”

Masters Champions Dinner quarantine style. Nothing better than being with family. pic.twitter.com/xPK769CWCf

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 7, 2020

One of the big pluses is that Woods is getting to spend plenty of serious time with his family as evident in the photograph (above) he posted earlier this week, reminder of Tuesday’s postponed ‘Champions Dinner’ that is always held the Tuesday night of Masters week.

Woods’ and his family dined on fajitas, sushi and sashimi with milkshakes for desert, the same menu he would have served that night at the Masters Champions Dinner.

This one also included cupcakes and a most un-Masters-like closing food fight.

“It got a little interesting at the end,” said Woods. “It got a little ugly where icing was flowing across people’s hair and face so we had a little bit of fun at the end.

“But I did take the jacket off. This jacket cannot get cupcake on it.

“All we can do isTi be patient till November comes around when I will be defending. Hopefully that all comes about.

“This is not the way I wanted to keep the jacket for a longer period of time. I wanted to get out there and earn it again like I did in ’02.”

Woods has yet to sit down and sort out what his schedule plan might be when play resumes, knowing the virus impact could delay or cancel more events.

“The way the schedule looks we’re going to be awfully busy in the fall,” Woods said. “Trying to figure all that out.

“I’m going to sit down with my team and figure out what is the best practice schedule, what are the tournaments I should play in to get ready, when should I rest, all of the things that are kind of up in the air.

“What I keep telling everyone around here is let’s just go from meal to meal and it will add up.”

Woods said dealing with back pain, which led to spinal fusion surgery that enabled him to resume his career, has helped him cope with the enforced waiting he now faces.

“To keep all our hopes up every day, sometimes it’s challenging,” Woods said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to work but so far these little mini goals have worked for us.”