Woods played a ninth lead in South Hills on Sunday; He was joined by Gary Woodland at No. 5.

“I see him as one hundred percent stronger,” Joe LaCava added in a session with reporters. “I just think the stamina is there now. I don’t think he tires as quickly.

“Other than the fact that he won here in 2007, I think what excites him most is his stamina and endurance.”

Woods delighted fans with an opening Tour 71 on his competitive comeback in the Masters, his first TOUR tour since the Masters (November) 2020.

His stamina seemed to wane throughout the week; He followed it with runs of 74-78-78, and finished 47th. But he made the cut and pulled off a 72-hole run at Augusta National.

In his post-round remarks on Sunday, he committed to competing in the Open Championships in St Andrews in July. Go with caution regarding the PGA Championship.

Now he is ready to embark on the competition.

“Will I ever have full motion? No, never again,” Woods said Sunday in Southern Hills. “But I will be able to get stronger. It will hurt, but that is what it will be like.

“I am excited about (the week). I will not be playing much in the future so any time I play it will be fun to play and compete. There are a lot of money games you can play at home.”