Golf
Tiger confident heading into Masters─── MORGAN PIEK 16:42 Wed, 10 Apr 2019
The 14-time major winner, Tiger Woods, is confident ahead of teeing it up at the Masters for the 22nd time on Thursday.
The world number 12 is a four-time winner of the famous green jacket at Augusta in Georgia.
Woods, who has famously been battling with a back injury over the last couple of the years admits that his win at East Lake in September made him realise that he can still win.
Woods says that he is really hungry for the win at Augusta.
“I don’t really need to win again, but I really want to,” said the former world number one.
“After I won my 14th major, I felt like I still had plenty of major championships that I could win. Unfortunately, I just didn’t do it.
“I put myself with changes on the back nine various Sunday’s and haven’t done it.
“Hopeful this year this I put myself there again and hopefully I get it done.”
Woods has been pair alongside China's Li Haotong and Spain's Jon Rahm for the first round.
The second-ranked with Dustin Johnson has been tipped as the favourite to don the green jacket on Sunday, while the South African-born world number one, Justin Rose is also among the top three.
Pairing for the first round (South African time):
14:15 - Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus (Honorary starters)
14:30: - Andrew Landry, Adam Long, Corey Conners (CAN)
14:41 - Ian Woosnam (WAL), Keith Mitchell, Kevin Tway
14:52 - Mike Weir (CAN), Shane Lowry (IRL), a-Kevin O'Connell,
15:03 - Angel Cabrera (ARG), Aaron Wise, Justin Harding (RSA)
15:14 - Danny Willett (ENG), Brandt Snedeker, a-Takumi Kanaya (JPN)
15:25 - Fred Couples, Kim Si-woo (KOR), J. B. Holmes
15:36 - Branden Grace (RSA), Emiliano Grillo (ARG), Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN)
15:47 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Charles Howell, Eddie Pepperell (ENG)
15:58 - Sergio Garcia (ESP), Tony Finau, Henrik Stenson (SWE)
16:09 - Adam Scott (AUS), Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Kyle Stanley
16:31 - Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, a-Viktor Hovland (NOR)
16:42 - Charley Hoffman, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Marc Leishman (AUS)
16:53 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland
17:04 - Tiger Woods, Li Haotong (CHN), Jon Rahm (ESP)
17:15 - Rory McIlroy (NIR), Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith (AUS)
17:26 - Sandy Lyle (SCO), Michael Kim, Patton Kizzire
17:37 - Trevor Immelman (RSA), Martin Kaymer (GER), a-Devon Bling
17:48 - Larry Mize, Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink
17:59 - Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP), Kevin Na, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN)
18:10 - Bernhard Langer (GER), Matt Wallace (ENG), a-Alvaro Ortiz (MEX)
18:21 - Alex Noren (SWE), Keegan Bradley, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG)
18:43 - Vijay Singh (FIJ), Billy Horschel, A - Jovan Rebula (RSA)
18:54 - Kevin Kisner, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA), Shugo Imahira (JPN)
19:05 - Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter (ENG), Matt Kuchar
19:16 - Francesco Molinari (ITA), Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP), Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
19:27 - Bubba Watson, Patrick Cantlay, Satoshi Kodaira (JPN)
19:38 - Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day (AUS)
19:49 - Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose (ENG), Justin Thomas
20:00 - Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka
@MorganPiek OFM Sport