Tiger Woods arrives at Augusta to fine-tune his game ahead of The Masters as the 15-time major winner looks to break a record this week

Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta National Sunday to begin his preparation for a similar chase for glory at The Masters this week.

The five-time Green Jacket winner returned to the hallowed grounds of Augusta where he has found so much glory as he begins his quest to further close in on Jack Nicklaus’ great record.

The 48-year-old, returning to the fairways for the first time since withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational, followed a similar formula on Sunday – one that preceded his iconic triumphant comeback in 2019.

Accompanied by his caddy for the week, Lance Bennett and friend and business partner Rob McNamara, Woods bypassed the practice area and headed to the putting green near the clubhouse.

The golf icon then took to the course and spent time on the greens chipping and putting Bob Harig.

Woods was accompanied by caddy Lance Bennett (L) and business partner Rob McNamara

Woods performed a similar routine prior to his victory in 2019 and last year before reaching his 23rd consecutive Masters, tying a record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples.

He has a chance to break that record if he can make it to the weekend in Augusta this week.

However, despite advancing to the weekend last year, Woods was ultimately forced to withdraw after the third round.

Woods was in visible pain during the wet, blustery third round at Augusta National in 2023 before withdrawing ahead of the final day due to aggravated plantar fasciitis.

He underwent surgery in April to help with the injury and kept a relatively low profile on and off the track before making a competitive return at the Hero World Challenge.

But he also failed to play the full 72 holes at the Genesis Invitational in February, withdrawing after suffering “flu-like symptoms” and starting his second round with a fever.

The 48-year-old performed a similar routine to his preparations for the 2019 and 2023 Masters

The legend bypassed the practice area and headed to the green near the clubhouse

Woods made a remarkable return to competitive golf at The Masters in 2022, just fourteen months after a single car accident in February 2021 nearly cost him his leg.

The injuries he sustained in the accident have made running the course a struggle, with the 82-time PGA Tour winner limping at times.

The previous concern about Woods’ ability to complete a round was not his play itself, but rather the issue of running the course due to the pain in his ankle and leg.

However, after the surgery, he revealed that walking was no longer as much of a problem.

the five-time Augusta National winner headed to the famous white clubhouse after practice

He reportedly spent time on the greens of the course, chipping and putting

He has a chance to break the record if he can make it through the weekend

“I’m not worried about it at all,” he said in November. “I no longer have the ankle pain that I had with the hardware placed in my foot.

‘That’s all gone, but it’s more the other parts of my body, my knee hurts, my back, the forces go somewhere else. Just like when my back melted, the forces had to go somewhere. It’s in the chain.

“So like I said, I’m just as curious as all of you to see what’s going to happen. I haven’t done this in a while.’

Augusta National has been a special place for Woods and his career, setting the stage not only for his return in 2022, but also for his triumphant comeback in 2019 when he won his fifth Masters and his first major in eleven years – 15th overall.