A FIFTH green jacket may be tough, but Tiger Woods will at least get a green zone of security when he returns at the US Masters next month.
Woods took his first steps toward resuming his career yesterday by announcing his comeback at Augusta National from April 8-11, in a tournament the disgraced world No. 1 has won four times.
"After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," Woods said in statement yesterday.
"I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment ... I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life." Predictably, the response was Tiger-sized.
PGA Tour officials and players queued up to welcome back Woods, and despite five months in sex-scandal exile, bookmakers worldwide installed him as favourite to win.
Woods will have his first real hitout next week at an annual 36-hole event at Isleworth, an exclusive gated community in Florida near his home. The invitation-only event will feature players who live in the area, including Australian Robert Allenby.
Woods' critics, meanwhile, continued to accuse the elusive golfer of hiding from scrutiny by returning at the tightly controlled Augusta.
Media credentials are limited and the club has tight control over who gets in.
Fans with season badges risk life bans for being caught with a cell phone or a camera.
"That's why Augusta makes such good sense," Jim Furyk said. "There's less of that (heckling) than anywhere else. Everyone is afraid to lose their ticket. The etiquette and behaviour is far better than anywhere else because of the fear factor."
Woods has not played in a tournament since winning the Australian Masters - his 82nd title - at Kingston Heath on November 15.
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