Tiger Woods practices at Augusta; status for Masters still undecided

Tiger Woods was back practicingat Augusta National on Friday, but his status for next week's Masters has still not been announced.

The four-time Masters champion was spotted hitting balls on the driving range. Golf Channel earlier reported that Woods was on site, and the Augusta Chronicle reported that his private plane was at the local Augusta airport.

Woods played a practice round Tuesday at Augusta National with two members and in the company of his caddie, Joe LaCava. Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, later told ESPN.com that Woods played 18 holes and that Woods would "advise us when he is ready to play competitively."

Woods has not played in a tournament since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open on Feb. 5 with a stiff lower back just 11 holes into the first round. The week prior, he missed the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he also had a career-worst round of 82.

On Feb. 11, Woods announced he would be taking time away to work on his game, saying, "My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf. Like I've said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I'm ready I'll be back."

Steinberg said Woods has been working hard to get back, mostly at his home course, the Medalist near Jupiter, Florida. LaCava was with him there Thursday, Golf Channel said.

Golfweek reported via a source that Woods kept score during his Tuesday practice round, shooting 74 with five birdies but also hitting several indifferent chip shots.

In 74 Masters rounds, Woods has shot 74 or higher on 13 occasions, with his worst score of 77 coming in 1995 when he was an amateur. There is no deadline for Woods to announce his intentions to play.