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.
golf365.com