Tiger Woods discusses plans for majors after Masters defence postponed

Tiger Woods served up revenge on Phil Mickelson in a charity exhibition match after spending his lockdown playing tennis.

The Masters champion looked in ominously good form as he paired with Peyton Manning to beat Mickelson and Tom Brady on the final green of a fun contest to raise US$20m for Covid-19 charities.

Woods lost the original US$9m against Mickelson in Las Vegas in 2018 but never trailed in rainy Florida and his team won 1-up.

The 15-time Major winner's last round was a 77 at the Genesis Invitational in February as he finished last of players who made the weekend.

Woods then did not play the WGC-Mexico and The Players Championship because of back issues. But the world No.11 did not miss a fairway on his home course at Medalist Golf Club in Florida as he builds towards the return of the PGA Tour on June 11.

Woods said: “It has been nice to be at home and train each and every day and get some treatment on it. Get into a routine basically.

"I did play for a while, trying to peak for Augusta and try and get ready for that. And all of a sudden with this pandemic and everything that has happened, we have all been very careful and stay at home and it has been good in that regard.

"I have been able to spend a lot of time with my kids which has been awesome. So we have had a lot of fun. This is probably the most amount of tennis I have played forever."

Woods has played only two events this year and has not yet confirmed his events for the rest of the season. The compressed schedule could be an issue for the 44-year-old with the US Open now just a week after the Ryder Cup.

"It is going to be interesting to see what happens," he said. "I think that trying to peak for the Majors in April, May, June and July is what I have played for forever. But now it has all changed and everything is fluid and on the fly."

NFL legend Brady produced the best shot when holed out for birdie from the fairway on the seventh.

But Woods produced the best sledge on the fifth hole when six-time US Open runner-up Mickelson asked him to mark his ball on the green.

"Do you want me to mark it with one of my U.S. Open medals?" he said.

Manning said: "Phil said he was nervous, so imagine us. I was not comfortable the whole time, but raising $20 million as people are going through such tough times, it's something I'll always remember and cherish.''

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