Tiger Woods `close to competitive return`

Johannesburg : Former world number one golfer Tiger Woods is poised for a competitive return, the player’s long-time friend has revealed.

The 40-year-old, who saw his form take a dip after suffering a series of back injuries since 2013, hasn’t played competitively since August last year. He also skipped the recently-concluded Augusta Masters saying he was ‘not physically ready’ for the opening major of the year.

His appearance during a junior golf event this week sparked speculations that he would be making his competitive return immediately.

Confirming the news, the 14-time major champion’s friend Notah Begay, a professional-turned commentator, said that Woods was getting closer to a competitive return and that the physical attributes he would need ‘are starting to materialize’, Sport24 reported.

However, Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg said that ‘there is no timetable’ for the player’s return. (ANI)