Masters 2024: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for Augusta, says friend

Tiger Woods at The Genesis Invitational. Photo / Getty

Tiger Woods is focused on preparation for the upcoming US Masters - taking drastic measures to ensure he’s ready for the gruelling week.

“He’s focused,” a friend of the 48-year-old told the New York Post.

“He’s working really hard in the gym. He’s eating right. He’s even eliminated sex.

“He does that now when he’s preparing – no sex until the tournament is over. He doesn’t want anything to take away his focus.”

Woods has not been seen with anyone publicly since an acrimonious split from his girlfriend of six years Erica Herman in 2023.

She sued the 15-time Major winner for $49.7m in an attempt to exit a non-disclosure agreement she had signed, but dropped the case last November.

“There’s no one to speak of,” Woods said to The Post later when asked if he was dating.

It is not the first time an athlete has chosen to abstain from sexual activity before a looming competition.

Muhammad Ali famously claimed a six-week period of celibacy before big fights and fellow boxer Mike Tyson has said he went for five years without sex during the prime of his career.

But not all athletes agree.

In 1969, former NFL quarterback Joe Namath told Playboy he had sex before games to “get rid of the kind of nervous tension that an athlete doesn’t need”.

Woods has long maintained the Masters is his favourite tournament, and heads into the event without having played four consecutive rounds of golf since the Hero World Challenge back in December.

He won one of the most famous Masters titles in 2019, his first major win in 11 years.

His 2023 Masters bid was cut short when he withdrew after 54 holes due to inflammation in his foot.

He has maintained a low profile in the year since, with the biggest news surrounding the global star being the end of his 27-year apparel deal with Nike.