What we learned about Tiger Woods’ schedule, body and game at the 2022 Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — After playing 72 holes over four straight days at one of the most demanding golf courses in the world, Tiger Woods was asked if he was in much pain Sunday after finishing up his Masters.

“Uh-huh,” Woods answered.

Woods’ return to professional golf won’t be remembered for the consecutive rounds of 6-over 78, the worst in his career here, or his nearly unrecognizable putting on the slick greens of Augusta National Golf Course.

This past week will be remembered for the grit and determination he displayed while limping around the place where he had previously won five times. He refused to give in. Even though he posted his worst score in 24 Masters appearances as a professional, he completed and finished a tournament less than 14 months after he nearly lost his right leg in a car wreck outside Los Angeles.

“It’s one thing to play with my son at a hit-and-giggle, but it’s another thing to play in a major championship,” Woods said. “It’s been a tough road, and one that I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to grind through it. A lot of different things could have happened, but 14 months [later], I’m able to tee it up and play in the Masters.”

What did we learn about Woods over the past week at Augusta National? And what comes next? Here are answers to those questions:

When will we see Tiger again?

Woods has said his days of playing a full schedule are over and he’ll only show up at the big events. At this point, the best guess — and it’s completely speculation — is that Tiger is eyeing the remaining three major championships and potentially the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, an event that benefits his foundation, in late November.

After his round Sunday, Woods told Sky Sports that he plans to play in The Open at St. Andrews in July. He isn’t yet sure if he’ll play in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May or the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, in June.

“It’ll be…