2 Apr 2015

Tiger plays round at Augusta

11:59 am on 2 April 2015

The former world golf number one Tiger Woods has played a practice round at Augusta as he continues to weigh up his chances of playing in this year's Masters.

Woods, a four-time Masters champion, has yet to confirm if he will feature at next week's event after struggling for form.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods Photo: PHOTOSPORT

He is now ranked 104th in the world and has missed the cut in the only two tournaments he has played this season.

Manager Mark Steinberg confirmed the American played 18 holes at the venue.

However, Steinberg has not revealed if Woods is any closer to reaching a decision about competing.

He told ESPN: "Tiger clearly is working hard and he will advise as to when he is ready to play competitively."

Woods posted the worst score of his professional career earlier this year, with an 11 over par 82 at the Phoenix Open.

He also withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open after just 11 holes last month.

However, he later wrote on his website: "When I think I'm ready, I'll be back. I hope to be ready for the Masters."

Woods has not played in a US PGA Tour event since withdrawing at Torrey Pines on February 5 after 11 holes with back pain.

The following week, he said he was taking an indefinite break until he could improve his game to a competitive level.

"My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf," Woods said in February.

"Like I've said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I'm ready, I'll be back."

Woods said his latest issues were unrelated to the back surgery he had last year that caused him to miss the Masters for the first time in 20 years.

Many players have practice rounds at Augusta National in the days before the official tournament week sessions begin.

Former world number one Woods skipped traditional Masters tune-ups at Doral and Bay Hill, but told tournament host Arnold Palmer that he hoped to be ready for the Masters.

If Woods does play next week at Augusta National, it will mark his longest lay-off before a major since the 2010 Masters, when he finished equal fourth after five months off in the wake of his infamous sex scandal.

Woods, chasing the all-time record of 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, has fallen to 104th in the world rankings, falling outside the top 100 for the first time since before his first PGA triumph at the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational.