Augusta, Apr 03: Tiger Woods has played down injury concerns ahead of the US Masters, which starts on 8 April at Augusta National. The world number one was hampered by a leg injury at the Players Championship, finishing only 16th, but he expects to be ready for the first major of 2004.
"My leg is sore, there's no doubt about that, but hey I just go ahead and keep playing," said Woods.
He said the problem was a sore quadriceps muscle that he injured on the driving range in February. Wood, 28, is out to win his first Major since the 2002 US Open and is spending the next few days at his Florida home to complete his preparations.
"I need to hit more fairways, to shoot more proper golf shots at the flags, give myself more birdie opportunities because I'm really putting well, just not giving myself enough looks at putts."
Woods, a three-times Masters champion, will play his first practice round at Augusta on Monday. "The only hole they really changed is 11, with the tree line," he said.
"It's not like a reconstruction of some of the greens or some of the tee boxes like they did a few years ago".

Bureau Report