Tiger Woods team member on Masters return: "He's going to DOMINATE!"
Tiger Woods has a new career goal, according to a member of his team, and it involves becoming the oldest Masters champion in history.
Tiger Woods may or may not be competing in the 2022 Masters at Augusta National, but a member of his team has told PEOPLE that he wants to become the oldest Masters champion in history in 2023.
Woods headed to Augusta National with his son Charlie Woods to play a practice round ahead of The Masters next week - READ HERE
Related: Rory McIlroy on Tiger Woods Masters return - "He likes to prove people wrong and prove himself wrong"
It’s so beautiful. Tiger at Augusta pic.twitter.com/NNl1b87IdX
— Justin Wheelon (@JustinWheelon) March 30, 2022
The 15-time major champion has now returned home to Florida to contemplate whether or not it will be a good idea for him to tee it up in the tournament.
As it stands, Woods' name is still down to participate in golf s first major of the year - but he could still withdraw at the last minute.
According to reports, Woods is "exhausting all of his efforts" into making it into The Masters.
Woods came close to death 13 months ago when crashing his car in Los Angeles and it left him with serious leg injuries.
He played the PNC Championship with his son Charlie at the end of 2021 but a return to The Masters next week would mark his first official tournament outing since the same event in November 2020.
One member of his team has told PEOPLE that it's the 2023 Masters next year that Woods is really targeting in terms of winning.
Should Woods win The Masters again he would match Jack Nicklaus for six wins at Augusta.
Woods has apparently set it as his new career goal to become the oldest Masters champion in history at the age of 47, which he will be when the 2023 Masters comes around next April. Woods' birthday is December 30.
Related: Jack Nicklaus on Tiger Woods - Another Masters win would "eclipse" his achievements
Nicklaus currently holds the record as the oldest Masters champion having memorably won the 1986 Masters at the age of 46.
It was a victory that also marked a record 18th major title for him.
Nicklaus is three majors ahead of Woods, who has 15, in the all-time major victories count.
"He’s aiming for the 2023 Masters Tournament," a source told PEOPLE.
"Tiger has a new goal – to be the oldest winner at the Masters. Jack Nicklaus won when he was 46. Tiger will be 47 next year when he competes, and that’s the newest record he is going for. He’ll stop at nothing to accomplish it."
The source then added: "Tiger was known for his focus before, but now he’s learned to focus through terrible pain. And now that the pain has mostly faded, that focus is still there. He’s going to be a force when he returns to the game. He’s going to dominate."
Phil Mickelson is the oldest major champion in the history of the game, aged 50, following his incredible victory at the 2021 US PGA Championship.
Given his rivalry with Mickeslon down the years on the PGA Tour, Woods will no doubt have that one on his radar, too.
As for Woods' current health, the source gives a very favourable assessment.
"His pain has gone down tremendously," the source explains. "He has moments, but he's really not in a lot of pain anymore. The pain he has can be managed."
