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 on Sunday to begin his preparation for a similar quest for glory at this week’s Masters.

The five-time Green Jacket winner returned to the hallowed grounds of Augusta, where he found so much glory, as he begins his quest to get even closer to Jack Nicklaus’ premier record.

The 48-year-old, returning to the streets for the first time since his withdrawal from the Genesis Invitational, followed a similar formula on Sunday, a formula that preceded his iconic triumphant return in 2019.

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

The golf icon then hit the course and spent time on the greens playing and playing, according to Bob Harig.

Woods performed a similar routine before his 2019 triumph and last year went on to make the cut for a 23rd consecutive Masters, tying a record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples.

He has a chance to break that record if he makes it to the weekend at Augusta this week.

However, although he managed to sneak into the weekend last year, Woods was ultimately forced to withdraw after the third round.

Woods suffered visible pain during the wet and windy third round at Augusta National in 2023, before withdrawing before 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 field, before making a competitive return to the Hero World Challenge.

But he was also unable to play a full 72 holes at the Genesis Invitational in February when he withdrew after suffering “flu-like symptoms” and entering the second round with a fever.

Woods made a notable return to competitive golf at The Masters in 2022, just 14 months after a car accident in February 2021 nearly cost him his leg.

Injuries suffered during the accident have made walking around the course a struggle, as the 82-time PGA Tour winner limps at times.

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

However, after surgery, he revealed that walking was no longer a big concern.

“I’m not worried about walking it at all,” he said in November. ‘I don’t have any of the ankle pain I had with the hardware they put in my foot.

‘All that has disappeared, but there are more of the other parts of my body, my knee hurts, my back hurts, my strength goes elsewhere. Just like when his back was fused, the strength had to go somewhere. It’s in the chain.

‘So, like I said, I’m as curious as all of you to know 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, providing the venue not only for his return in 2022, but also for his triumphant return in 2019, when he won his fifth Masters and first Major in 11 years (his 15th in total).