Tiger Woods shows signs of recovery as Masters beckons Justin Rose, last week's champion at Doral, positively winced when he heard of Woods's withdrawal with an Achilles problem. Oh, really? That's not good news," the Englishman said. I hope that he's holding himself back for the Masters and doesn't want to do any more damage. Rose's sentiments were echoed by Rory McIlroy, who has taken over at No 1 just in time for a potentially seismic duel with Woods at Augusta National. "It's probably just precautionary, but I really hope he's ready for The Masters," the Ulsterman said of his rival's Doral exit. It's a shame, because he looked like he was coming out this year swinging it really well, playing good, getting himself into contention. Feeling like he's coming back to his best, or something near it, is great for the game. He can spark an interest that no one else can. Woods has made every Masters cut as a professional and finished no worse than sixth in the past seven years on his beloved Augusta track. Even at his recent nadir, in the midst of a split from wife Elin Nordegren in 2010 and a struggle to recapture any semblance of form in 2011, he came tied fourth on both occasions. But with a curious circularity, it was also at Augusta that the left Achilles first began to give him discomfort last year, when he strained it trying to execute an awkward escape from under Eisenhower's Tree on the 17th. He attempted to return too early at the Players in May, quitting after nine holes, 42 shots, and at Doral last weekend the injury resurfaced with an alarming suddenness as he hit his final drive off the 12th and told playing partner Webb Simpson he would have to stop. "You could tell he was hurting," Simpson said.