Billy Payne has plenty of sympathy for Tiger Woods ahead of the 2016 Masters.
Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, had what he called "very major" back surgery in November and said he doesn't expect to get back on the course until June.
But after getting a look at Woods at Tuesday's traditional champions dinner, Payne was optimistic about Woods' hopes of returning to the PGA Tour in 2016.
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"Last night [Woods] looked good, he looked better than me," Payne said Wednesday at his annual news conference. "I was delighted — he's encouraged, I could tell the fire's building back up in his belly, and I suspect Tiger's going to be back fairly quickly, and I'm looking forward to it."
Woods agent Mark Steinberg told ESPN on Sunday that he expects Woods to return to the course this year but there is no timetable.
Woods, a 14-time major champion and four-time winner at the Masters, had two back surgeries last fall on the heels of another procedure in 2014. That surgery kept Woods out of the Masters and U.S. Open that year, and he missed the cut in four of the six majors he has played since then.
The 2016 Masters begins April 7 at the pristine, exclusive Georgia golf course. Jordan Spieth is defending champion.
