Tiger Woods surprise visitor to Augusta
April 5, 2010

Tiger Woods sprang a surprise at Augusta National on Sunday when he turned up without notice to play the back nine at the U.S. Masters venue with his good friend and long-time mentor Mark O’Meara.

Woods spent 10 minutes at the revamped practice facility Augusta, speaking briefly to British world number six Paul Casey and 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, before he and O’Meara teed off at the par-four 10th.

In line with tradition on the Sunday before Masters week, the golfing media were not permitted on the par-72 layout and Woods left the course without speaking to any reporters after completing nine holes.

Woods had his regular caddie, Steve Williams, with him on a glorious sun-splashed afternoon and his black golf bag was notably bereft of any sponsor’s names, bearing only the letters ‘TW’ in white with Tiger Woods written below.

The 34-year-old Woods, a 14-times major champion, has not played competitive golf since his private life spectacularly unravelled at the end of last year.

Woods took an indefinite break from the game to try to repair his marriage amid revelations about his extra-marital affairs before announcing last month he would return at the Masters, which begins on Thursday.