[Masters] Woods Begins Warm-Up in Practice Round

Appearance at Augusta National Golf Club
New Caddie Bennett Accompanies 'Close Friend' McNamara
Focusing on Course Strategy Including Chip Shots and Bunker Shots

The "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) has begun his Masters warm-up.

Tiger Woods (left) is leaving the course after finishing a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club, the battleground of the Masters. [Augusta=AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 7th (local time), he appeared at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA, where the Masters is held. He went out on the course late Sunday afternoon. He was accompanied by his newly hired caddie Lance Bennett and longtime friend and business manager Rob McNamara.

It was not a full 18-hole practice round. He focused on planning his course strategy by surveying the course and occasionally hitting chip shots or bunker shots. At the 1st hole, he did not tee off but went straight through the fairway to the green. He briefly greeted Kim Joo-hyung, who was playing a practice round. For nearly 20 minutes, he practiced shots around the green, lofting or rolling the ball with a wedge. While on the course, he also met Im Sung-jae, who was playing a practice round.

Woods has not officially announced his participation in the Masters yet, but his visit to Augusta makes his appearance highly likely. He is scheduled to hold a press conference at the Augusta National Golf Club press building two days before the Masters begins, on the 9th. It is expected to be the occasion where he officially announces his participation. Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational in February, his first tournament of the year, due to a high fever. He has collected five Masters trophies in history. The Masters will be held over four days starting from the 11th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.