Tiger Woods hoped for Masters start after last back surgery

Tiger Woods felt pain in his back during the PNC Championship in December

Tiger Woods "hopes" to play in the Masters at Augusta National in April after undergoing a fifth back surgery.

Woods recovered from spinal fusion surgery in 2017 to win a 15th major at the 2019 Masters, but his participation in this year's event – which begins April 8 – is at stake.

"I'm fine – I'm a little stiff," Woods told CBS Television.

"I have another MRI scheduled so we'll see if I can get into more activities.

" I'm still in the gym, still doing the mundane things you need to do for rehabilitation; the little things where I can lean towards something more.

When asked if he would be at Augusta National in seven weeks, Woods replied, "I hope so," before adding the results of his MRI scan would determine whether would be to participate in a warm-up event.

Woods last played at the PNC Championship in December, where he "felt discomfort" in his back.

He won his fifth Masters title in 2019, more than a decade after his previous win in a major.

He jointly won the record for the most PGA Tour wins at 82 with Sam Snead and three behind Jack Nicklaus' score of 18 major titles.

But back injuries have seen Woods in recent years and after playing just one PGA Tour event between August 2015 and December 2017, he had a spinal fusion-op eration.

Woo ds finished 2019 sixth in the world golf rankings, but is now 48th.