The message was crystal-clear from the four-time Masters-winning Tiger Woods.
“I feel like I can win,” he said just two days before he tees-up attempting to capture not only a fifth Augusta green jacket but a 15th Major Championship.
And Woods cited his form with nine holes to play in last July’s Open Championship at Carnoustie and how he went close in last year’s PGA Championship at Bellerive
“I’ve proven that I can do it and I put myself there with a chance to win the last two major championships,” he said.
“I was right there.
Tiger Woods heading to Augusta National with a very clear message he can win a 15th Major (Photo – @tourmiss)
“I’ve improved a lot over the past 12, 14 months, but I’ve more than anything just proven to myself that I can play at this level again. I’ve worked my way back into (being) one of the players that can win events.”
Asked if he needed to win another Masters, Woods replied, “I don’t really need to win again. I really want to.”
But it’s not going to be as easy as that as Woods knows all too well.
“The hardest part is I just can’t practice like I used to. My back gets sore,” Woods said.
“I just can’t log in the time that I used to and that goes with every part of my game. That’s the challenge I face going forward.”
But what Woods enjoys over most in this week’s Augusta field is the ability to play ‘those’ shots, those shots you need to win at the Cathedral in the Pines.
“Some of my best shots I’ve ever pulled off have been here. It’s just a very special place and I get excited about it,” Woods said.
“It’s fun for me, the fact that I can get people fired up like that and they enjoy something I love to do. I get a rush out of pulling off shots that sometimes I only dreamed about pulling off, and to see some of the reactions.”
And the best result for Woods this week?
“To lead it wire-to-wire, that made it that much more special,” he said smiling.
