TIGER WOODS is eyeing a return to action next month after missing the Masters with a back injury.
The crocked superstar was a no-show at Augusta for the second time in three years as he continues to recover from three bouts of surgery.
But he could be back in a matter of weeks and is looking at a date after the Players Championship - the unofficial 'fifth Major' - in the second week of May.
Masters: Live leaderboard
That is according to close pal Notah Begay, who has remained in constant touch with Woods throughout his career.
Begay said it would have been a day idea for Woods to play the Masters - especially given his rustiness and tough conditions.
Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters, Rickie Fowler and Charley Hoffman currently lead the way on four under par.
But he went on to tell the Rich Eisen Show that he would not be surprised to see Woods tee it up in June's US Open, the next Major.
Begay said: "The Masters probably wouldn't have been the best place for Tiger to start the year out after this most recent setback.
"And I think we should probably look at something just after the Players Championship.
"The US Open is a definite possibility. That's probably the event that's circled on his calendar.
"But he's got to at least get one or two starts in before that to see where his body, where his game's at and if he can hit the shots he wants to hit."