Last-Minute Projections for Tiger Woods at the 2018 Masters

When Tiger Woods tees off at 10:42 a.m. ET at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia on Thursday, he'll be aiming to win his fifth green jacket and his first major in 10 years.

Woods has not featured at the Masters since 2015, but he'll put an end to that absence after spinal fusion surgery last year appears to have done the same to his miserable run of issues with his fitness and form.

With the return of one of the Masters' most successful champions, it's time to make some last-minute projections as to how he'll fare in Augusta.

Tiger Will Finish in the Top 10

Woods hasn't appeared at a major since 2015, and he has failed to make the cut on four of the last six occasions he has played in one of golf's four most prestigious events.

A fourth surgery on his back seems to have done wonders in terms of recovering his game, though, and he comes into the tournament in excellent shape, having finished as a runner-up in the Valspar Championship and T5 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month.

Golf analyst Ron Mintz noted his transformation:

Per Ben Everill for the PGA Tour's official website, Woods now boasts the fastest recorded swing on this season's Tour of 129.2 miles per hour, having struggled to walk or sit down a year ago. He told Everill:

"All of a sudden I have this pop and my body and my speed's back and my timing. I'm hitting speeds that I hit in my prime.

"That's what's the shocking thing, is I didn't think I would ever reach north of 120, and I'm cruising at 120.

"So that part is very exciting because I know that if I can maintain this, I can play out here for a very long time and be able to have the length to get around pretty much any of the golf courses."

Given his recent results, the return of his speed and timing has evidently had a profound effect on his game.

He's looked in good shape in practice at Augusta, too, per Golf Channel's Ryan Lavner:

It's perhaps understandable given his almost-unrivalled mastery of the course. The PGA Tour shared Woods' remarkable record:

In his most recent appearance in Augusta, he managed a T17 finish despite having not played in the two months prior to the tournament, such is his ability to conjure some of his best showings at the Masters almost out of thin air.

A good performance this time around will have been coming, though. Woods ranks seventh in strokes gained on the PGA Tour this season, a testament to his good form, and he looks ready to put in a strong showing here.

But He Won't Win His 5th Green Jacket This Year

The stage is set for Woods to make his comeback at the 2018 Masters and he appears primed to do so, but it won't necessarily be a winning return to major championships.

Indeed, while the 42-year-old may well put in an impressive showing that serves as a platform on which he can build toward his elusive 15th major title, winning here will be incredibly difficult, particularly after a two-year absence from competing at this level.

What's more, as Golf.com's Josh Sens noted, "There's just too much depth in the field."

According to PGA Tour statistician Richie Hunt, Woods' current rivals are stronger and boast more well-rounded games than those who offered the sternest opposition to him during his peak years, so the American will have even larger obstacles to overcome than he did in his prime.

Per Hunt, today's best are stronger than Woods off the tee and are much better on the greens than the rivals he faced in his youth.

To make matters even more difficult, many of them are—like Woods—peaking at the right time to take Augusta by storm.

David Cannon/Getty Images

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has two wins under his belt this season, while there have also been victories for Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas, along with a number of other strong performers.

In another year, Woods' form might have allowed him to capitalise on a weaker field, but on this occasion he'll face a field stacked with potential winners.

Woods could well be a contender come Sunday, but taking top spot is likely to be a step too far.