Tiger hopes to be back next week

Tiger Woods has made light of his Achilles heel injury and said on Monday that he hopes to play at Bay Hill next week.

Tiger Woods has made light of his Achilles heel injury and said on Monday that he hopes to play at Bay Hill next week.

The former world No 1 withdrew after teeing off at the 12th hole in Sunday’s final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Golf Resort in Miami complaining of tightness in his left Achilles.

Initially. after his walk-off, there were fears of a repeat of the lengthy absence he endured last year after sustaining knee and Achilles injuries during the 2011 Masters, but the news was much brighter after he had visited a doctor on Monday.

The 36-year-old is now hopeful of being able to play again as soon as next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, which he is planning to use as a final tune-up event for this year’s Masters at Augusta National.

Woods wrote on his Twitter feed: “Got good news from the doc. Only mild strain of left Achilles. Can resume hitting balls late in the week and (I’m) hopeful for next week.”

The 14-time major champion, who has not won a full-field event on any tour since the Australian Masters in November 2009, has played at Augusta every year since his 1995 debut as an amateur.

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