Golf: Tiger back at full strength as he tunes up for Masters

Tiger Woods signs autographs for fans after a round at Bay Hill. Photo / AP

Orlando, Florida - Tiger Woods says he is back at full strength after a tendon strain and physically ready for the challenge of eight rounds in eight days that he faces playing this week's PGA event at Bay Hill.

Woods comes into the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his final tune-up for the Masters in two weeks at Augusta National, after a practice round last weekend at Augusta, the two-day Tavistock Cup exhibition and a practice round on Wednesday.

"I feel really good now," Woods said. "That's just because of treatment. I've had some good therapists on board and they've done some really good work."

Woods withdrew in the final round of the World Golf Championships event at Doral earlier this month with tightness in his left Achilles tendon, sparking concerns that nagging injuries had returned to foil yet another season.

The 14-time major champion, chasing the all-time record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, pulled out after hitting a tee shot on the 12th hole in the last round of his third consecutive tournament in as many weeks.

In making his recovery with the Masters in mind, Woods decided to test his endurance and stamina with a Sunday practice round, then the Tavistock team exhibition the past two days and at Bay Hill, where he has won six times. "It felt great at Augusta and that was the test," Woods said. "I played Tavistock because of that test and here I am ready to go."

Woods said the Achilles tightness could return without warning but noted that he recognises the signs of trouble and has learned that proper treatment at the proper time gets the situation back to normal.

"That's one of the reasons why I wasn't really that concerned about it, that I would come back and play these events, because when it gets that tight, treatment for two or three days, it's all fine, all the swelling goes away and I'm good to go," Woods said.

Tournament host Palmer says he sees flashes of Woods in his prime in the form that Woods has shown, even though Woods has not won a tour-sanctioned event since November 2009.

- AAP