Woods played the front nine at Southern Hills on Sunday; he was joined by Gary Woodland on No. 5.
“Hundred percent I see him stronger,” added caddy Joe LaCava in a session with reporters. “I just think the endurance is there now. I don’t think he’s getting quite as tired as quickly.
“Other than the fact that he won here in 2007, I think it’s the stamina and endurance thing that excites him the most.”
Woods thrilled fans with an opening-round 71 in his competitive return at the Masters, his first round on TOUR since the (November) 2020 Masters.
His endurance appeared to wane throughout the week; he followed with rounds of 74-78-78, finishing in 47th place. But he made the cut and successfully walked 72 holes at Augusta National.
In his post-round remarks that Sunday, he has committed to competing at the Open Championship at St Andrews in July. He proceeded with caution as to the PGA Championship.
Now he’s set to proceed into competition.
“Am I ever going to have full mobility? No. Never again,” Woods said Sunday at Southern Hills. “But I’ll be able to get stronger. It’s going to be ache, but that’s the way it’s going to be.
“I’m excited about (the week). I’m not going to play that much going forward, so anytime I do play, it’s going to be fun to play and to compete. There are only so many money games you can play at home.”