Late start for Woods

Augusta

Tiger Woods will tee off in the penultimate grouping of the 79th Masters tomorrow, marking his return to competition after two months on the sidelines striving to put his game back together.

The 39-year old former world number one will set off in the company of Welsh Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson and in-form fellow American Jimmy Walker.

Woods last played on February 5 when back pain forced him to abandon after 11 holes of the first round of the Farmers Insurance tournament at Torrey Pines.

Since then, his return to Augusta National and the Masters for the first time in two years had been in doubt until he gave it the thumbs up after playing a practice round on the course on Friday.

“I’m exited to be here. There is no other tournament like this. Competing again and really looking forward to Thursday,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time and a lot of work on this. I’ve been working my ass off. That’s the easiest way to kind of describe it. I worked hard.”

Woods will be seeking a fifth Masters crown this week and a 15th major title, his most recent one coming in June 2008 at the US Open.