All indications are that Tiger Woods will play in the Masters next week.

What is good news for golf fans comes with one major question that has become the theme of Woods’ pro golf twilight: how will the 15-time major champion’s body hold up? Former Stanford teammate and longtime friend Notah Begay III says everyone will find out at the same time.

“He’s trying to formulate a strategy and approach that he can work within given the constraints that he’s presented with. And he’s got some constraints,” Begay, now a commentator for NBC Sports, said on a conference call Wednesday. “He’s got zero mobility in that left ankle and really has low-back challenges now, which he knew he was going to have.”

At a junior golf tournament Begay hosts (and Charlie Woods played), Woods told Begay, “my ankle doesn’t move. So something’s going to take the stress. I mean, the stress is going to transfer somewhere else.”

Woods anticipated it could have been his knee or his hip, and the pain is most felt in his back. Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts, and said he suffered a back injury during the first round.

In February 2021, Woods nearly had his lower right leg amputated following an accident during which his Genesis GV80 struck the median and rolled over multiple times. Already saddled with injuries, Woods now has trouble walking.

“For the past couple months, he’s been trying to find a way to recover,” Begay said. “He can play the golf. We always knew the question was going to be ‘Can he walk the 72 (holes)?’ That’s still up in the air. But can he recover, from one round to the next? That’s the biggest question that I really don’t know and he’s not going to know either until he gets out there and figures out whether the way he’s prepared for this year’s Masters is going to work for him.”

As the golf world gears up for the highly anticipated Masters tournament next week, all eyes are on Tiger Woods, who appears to have made a bold decision in preparation for the event.

Wood’s sex ban ahead of Masters tournament

According to sources close to the golfing legend, Woods has reportedly imposed a self-imposed ban on sex until after the tournament, in a bid to maintain his focus and dedication to the game.

In an exclusive interview with The New York Post, a friend of Woods revealed, “He’s working really hard in the gym. He’s eating right. He’s even eliminated sex. He does that now when he’s preparing: no sex until the tournament is over. He doesn’t want anything to take away his focus.”

The report comes amidst speculation about Woods’ personal life following his highly publicized breakup with former girlfriend Erica Herman in 2023.

Despite rumors swirling about his dating life, Woods’ friend remained tight-lipped, stating, “there’s no one to speak of.”

Woods, who has won the Masters a remarkable five times, is undoubtedly aiming to secure his sixth green jacket at Augusta National.

Despite facing ongoing physical challenges, including mobility issues in his left ankle and chronic back pain, Woods remains determined to compete at the highest level.

Woods has an uphill physical battle before Masters

Former Stanford teammate and longtime friend Notah Begay III commented on Woods’ physical condition, acknowledging the challenges he faces.

“He’s trying to formulate a strategy and approach that he can work within given the constraints that he’s presented with,”Begay said.

“And he’s got some constraints.”

Despite these obstacles, Woods recently played Augusta National alongside PGA pal Justin Thomas and club chairman Fred Ridley, indicating his commitment to preparing for the tournament.

His most recent victory at Augusta came in 2019, marking a triumphant return to form after a decade-long drought in major victories.

“He’s got zero mobility in that left ankle and really has low-back challenges now, which he knew he was going to have,”Begay also revealed.

“For the past couple months, he’s been trying to find a way to recover,”Begay went on explaining Woods’ biggest hurdle.

“He can play the golf. We always knew the question was going to be ‘Can he walk the 72 (holes)?’ That’s still up in the air. But can he recover, from one round to the next? That’s the biggest question that I really don’t know and he’s not going to know either until he gets out there and figures out whether the way he’s prepared for this year’s Masters is going to work for him.”

With the Masters just around the corner, the question remains: Will Tiger Woods’ unconventional preparation pay off? Golf fans will have to wait until April 11th to witness the outcome as Woods takes to the course in pursuit of golfing glory once again.

15-time major champion Tiger Woods was in attendance Tuesday, March 26, at the Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens as members of the boys golf received their state championship rings.

The Benjamin boys team, led by longtime coach Toby Harbeck, won for the fourth time in program history — the first time since 2009. The squad captured the Class 1A title at Mission Inn Resort and Club at Howey-in-the-Hills in November.

While Charlie Woods is the team’s most famous member, others on the squad include Tyler Bruneau, Brooks Colton, Aiden Miller, Jack Nicoletta, Travis Robertson, Drew Sterling, Andrew Tsar, Pavel Tsar, Jake Valentine and Luke Wise.

Charlie’s mother Elin Nordegren was also on-hand to celebrate the team’s achievements.

Tiger Woods has come face to face with ex-wife Elin Nordegren as the divorced couple attended their son Charlie’s high school state golf championship ceremony.

Woods and Nordegren were both in attendance to celebrate Charlie, 15, winning a high school state golf championship in Palm Beach, Florida.

While Woods has, for years, said that they co-parent well together, he was seen standing awkwardly aside as Nordegren posed for a picture with Charlie and her son with ex-NFL player Jordan Cameron.

Woods, 48, was married to Swedish model Nordegren, 44, for six years before divorcing in 2010, with the golf legend’s infamous cheating scandal left their marriage in ruins.

Before going their separate ways, they welcomed two children together in Charlie, now 15, and daughter Samantha, 16 – with Nordegren going on to have a fourth son, Arthur, with former NFL star Jordan Cameron in December 2019

The youngster beamed as he showed off his championship ring, before posing for a photo with his mom and half-brother Arthur as his dad watched on from a distance.

Woods also shared a hug with his son after he did him proud by shooting a 78-76 over the course of two days while representing his school.

Back in December 2022, Tiger and Charlie reportedly gave Nordegren a shoutout during the PNC Championship following the arrival of her fourth child, according to Golf Monthly.

Furthermore, Erin was seen following Tiger and Charlie in 2020 when the father and son competed together at the PNC Championship.

Charlie was 11 at the time and it was the first time that he played golf under such spotlight.

‘I don’t think words can describe it,’ Woods said. ‘Just the fact that we were able to have this experience together, Charlie and I, they are memories for a lifetime.’

Tiger has, in the past, underlined how he and Erin prioritize their children’s wellbeing, despite enduring such a public split in 2010 in a story that gripped the world.

Talking to TIME magazine in 2015, Woods said: ‘Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. She’s one of my best friends.

‘We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time. We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids.

The ex-couple’s reunion comes after Woods’ former agent Hughes Norton opened up about his old client, recalling how he was ‘zombie-like’ when ending relationships.

Ahead of the release of his tell-all book, Rainmaker, which hit shelves on March 26 in the United States, Norton spoke to Mail Sport about the insight into his meteoric rise and abrupt fall – which ended with Woods firing him in 1998.

‘The solace I can take, which doesn’t provide much, is this: He was an equal opportunity zombie with relationships, his swing coaches, his lawyer, the guy negotiated the IMG representation deal, with caddies,’ he said about the 15-time major winner. ‘When it’s over, it’s over.

‘It is the way he terminates relationships with everyone. Whether it’s girlfriends, whether it’s his former golf coaches.

‘It’s ironic, really. In a way he’s so good at confrontation on the golf course. If he’s playing you, he will beat your brains out every single time.

‘But when it comes to confronting things like me and other people that are in his life, he has no social skills whatsoever. It’s maddening, actually.’

Last November Erica Herman, Woods’ ex-girlfriend of five years, dropped legal action against the golfer and said she was not a victim of sexual abuse during her time with him.

The former restaurant manager stated that she ‘was never a victim of sexual harassment or sexual abuse at the hands of Tiger Woods or any of his agents and it is her position that she never asserted a claim for such,’ in court documents filed to Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Herman dated Woods from 2017 to 2022 and worked at the golfer’s restaurant, The Woods Jupiter in Florida.

She initially claimed she had been forced into signing an NDA when Woods began to pursue a sexual relationship with her and was seeking to sue to be released from the agreement.

In the meantime, Woods is expected to play at The Masters next month, held at Augusta National in Georgia.

Woods also dated Lindsey Vonn for three years, before they split in 2015.

Two years later, Woods was arrested and charged with DUI when police found him asleep in the driver’s seat of his car in Florida. Woods was described in a police report as being confused and woozy.

The golfer agreed to undergo a 12-month probation diversionary program for first-time offenders and pay a $250 fine.

He also had to complete a DUI school and 50 hours of community service.