Fred Couples has been playing golf with Tiger Woods this week ahead of the Masters.
And the 1992 champion has revealed the 48-year-old has been performing well, while also insisting he's at the tournament to play 'really, really hard'.
Woods has been plagued by injuries over the past decade but returns to the Masters this year looking to win the prestigious tournament for the sixth time.
He last won the prize back in 2019, beating Xander Schauffele and Dustin Johnson to add to his legacy.
Tiger Woods is targeting a sixth Masters triumph at Augusta this year
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Many aren't sure how Woods will fare this year given his injury record.
But Couples, after playing golf with the American this week, is backing his compatriot to challenge.
“I think the last thing he’s thinking about is making the cut," he said.
“Can he win here? You know what, yeah.
"I just watched him play nine holes, and nine holes are only nine holes on a Tuesday, but he never mishits a shot.
"But the idea of making a cut —I think he would laugh at that because he’s not here to do that; he’s here to win.
"He’s here to play really, really hard.”
He continued: "He just hits so good.
“He hit a tree there, so I actually out-drove him on the 9th, but the sound of the ball [impressed me].”
Woods spoke at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the action later this week.
And the five-time champion admitted he was often in pain - but was still determined to achieve more success at Augusta.
"The body - thing's just flare up," he said.
"The training that we have to do at home changes on a day-to-day basis.
"Some days I just feel really good and some days not so much."
He added: "The ankle doesn't hurt anymore, it's fused. It's not going anywhere.
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Tiger Woods has been playing golf with Fred Couples ahead of the Masters
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"It's other parts of my body that now have to take the brunt of it.
"Once they put the rods in it, that's good to go. But the back, the knee and other parts of the body have to take the load of it.
"And just the endurance capability of walking a long time and being on my feet a long time."
Woods has an offer to be captain of Team USA at the next Ryder Cup, which will take place in 2025.
Yet the golf legend kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed on the subject.
Tiger Woods has won the Masters five times ahead of this year's tournament
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"We're still talking about it," he said.
"It's something Seth [PGA CEO Waugh] and I are going to sit back and talk about after this event.
"I said I'm gonna be busy for a couple of weeks so let me focus on this week and hopefully getting another jacket.
"And then we can talk about it next week."
