Tiger Woods at the Masters

Following the revelations about his private life and a five-month hiatus from golf, Tiger Woods is back at Augusta preparing for the Masters which starts on Thursday Photograph: Hans Deryk/Reuters Photograph: Hans Deryk/guardian.co.uk Having shocked the world with his frank admission of extramarital affairs and subsequent televised apology - details of which surfaced following a car crash outside his home in Isleworth, Florida, last November - Woods is now intent on rebuilding his reputation Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images Photograph: Harry How/guardian.co.uk The 34-year-old appears cheerless as he leaves the driving range with his caddie Steve Williams (centre) and his swing coach Hank Haney (right) prior to his practice round Photograph: Hans Deryk/Reuters Photograph: Hans Deryk/guardian.co.uk Woods has won 14 Majors in his career, including four Masters titles, the last of which came in 2005. Despite his recent absence from the sport, he remains the bookies' favourite ahead of Phil Mickelson Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Don Emmert/guardian.co.uk Woods is greeted at the first tee Photograph: Shaun Best/Reuters Photograph: Shaun Best/guardian.co.uk ... and unleashes his inimitable swing - a swing he's been refining under the tutelage of Haney in recent weeks Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters Photograph: Brian Snyder/guardian.co.uk Woods appears to receive a positive reaction form fans along the fairway Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie Squire/guardian.co.uk ... and gets a pat on the shoulder from former Masters winner and fellow American Fred Couples Photograph: Matt Campbell/EPA Photograph: Matt Campbell/guardian.co.uk Woods and Couples walk alongside caddie Joe Lacava Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images Photograph: Harry How/guardian.co.uk Another huge gallery of spectators awaits them at the sixth green Photograph: Shaun Best/Reuters Photograph: Shaun Best/guardian.co.uk Tiger's return has been welcomed by many of his fellow professionals. Though Kenny Perry warned: "He's got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. I think it's going to make him stronger." Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images Photograph: Harry How/guardian.co.uk Woods smiles as the practice round goes well. Tonight, however, he will face the scrutiny of the media at a press conference attended by 180 specially accredited journalists Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie Squire/guardian.co.uk