Couples raves about Tiger after Augusta practice round

Fred Couples played a nine-hole practice round with Tiger Woods at Augusta National on Monday and came away impressed.

The pair, who were joined by Justin Thomas, were followed by an eager gallery through the front nine as Woods put on an impressive display.

“He hit a few drives that were well worth watching, whether you paid for it or are in the tournament like me,” said Couples, per ESPN.

“He’s doing well,” Couples continued. “If you watched him play today, there’s not much of a back problem. He’s hitting it a long way, and it looks beautiful. Today wasn’t any different than it was 10 years ago when we played. It was pretty awesome.”

The 42-year-old Woods is back on the PGA Tour after undergoing back surgery for the fourth time in April 2017. This is his first time playing the Masters since 2015, when he finished tied for 17th.

He hasn’t played in any majors since missing the cut at the 2015 PGA Championship.

Woods is a 14-time major winner, including four Masters wins, with his most recent major victory coming at Torrey Pines in 2008 when he outlasted Rocco Mediate in the famous 91-hole U.S. Open showdown.

As for his chances this year, he certainly is coming in playing his best golf in years. He finished tied for second at the Valspar Championship and tied for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in his last two events.

Couples, who won his only major at the Masters in 1992, gets to watch Woods in action again Tuesday as the pair will join Phil Mickelson and Thomas Pieters for another practice round.

–Field Level Media