Hungry for action Tiger prowls over Masters’ contestants

14-time major champions plans another comeback after career-threatening back surgeries

AUGUSTA: Elder statesman status is all very well, but 14-time major champion Tiger Woods hasn't battled back from four back surgeries just to make up the numbers at the Masters.

"I still want to compete, and I want to beat these guys," the 42-year-old superstar said as he looked forward to his first Masters in three years, and his first major start since missing the cut at the 2015 PGA Championship.

Woods's promising return from spinal fusion surgery last April has galvanized a golf world eager to see if he can resume his chase to break Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles.

Woods's rivals in a talent-laden Masters field aren't immune.

The build-up to the Masters has featured an array of 20-something players describing the Tigeresque feats that inspired them to pursue competitive golf.

The possibility that they could find themselves head-to-head against an in-form Woods come Sunday is "an extra motivation for everybody" says world number three Jon Rahm, a 22-year-old from Spain.

"Tiger's earned the attention. He's been the biggest needle-mover in the game, and it's going to be tough for anyone to come close to that," said world number eight Rickie Fowler.

Woods will tee off on Thursday alongside Australian Marc Leishman and England's Tommy Fleetwood.

"The first real Masters I watched was 1997, when he won his first," Fleetwood, 27, recalled. "A few years on and I get to play with him and I don't think you can get a better draw than Tiger at the Masters."

Woods's compelling comeback bid isn't the only story in a Masters shaping up to be a classic.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who could complete a career Grand Slam with a first Masters victory, tees it up alongside Rahm and former Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia.

World number two Justin Thomas, the reigning US PGA Tour Player of the Year, can overtake Dustin Johnson atop the world rankings with a victory.

Johnson, who has reigned at number one for more than a year, has catching up to do after a pre-tournament slip on the stairs forced him out of last year's Masters at the 11th hour.

Spain's Sergio Garcia, who ended nearly two decades of major futility with his victory here last year, faces an uphill battle to retain the title — a feat only Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods have accomplished.