Tiger Woods: 'I feel like I can' contend at PGA Championship

Tiger Woods earned widespread praise from throughout the sports community for competing in this year's Masters tournament roughly 14 months after he nearly lost at least his right leg in a horrific car accident. 

Since Woods finished 47th at Augusta National Golf Club in April, he's been preparing to play in the upcoming PGA Championship held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa that gets underway on Thursday. The 15-time major champion spoke with reporters Tuesday about his ongoing recovery and his pursuit of a fifth career PGA Championship title.

"There's a lot of hardware in there and there's going to be limitations to what I'm going to be able to do, but I'm going to get stronger," Woods explained, according to Sky Sports. "I don't know how much that is or how much range of motion I'll ever get back, but sure is a hell of a lot better than it was 12 months ago. 

"I didn't have the endurance [at The Masters] that I wanted. I shouldn't expect it because I didn't earn it. I didn't go out there and I hadn't done the work, but we were able to put in a little bit more work and it's going to get better as time goes on. As the months pass, it's going to get better."

Woods shocked many when he shot a one-under 71 in the opening round of the Masters before his play expectedly came back down to earth over that weekend. The 46-year-old nevertheless insisted he's not making this trip merely to play a couple of largely meaningless rounds. 

"I feel like I can, definitely," Woods responded when asked if he feels he can contend this week. "I just have to go out there and do it. I have to do my work. Starts on Thursday and I'll be ready."

The public learned earlier in the day that Woods was grouped with Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth for the tournament's first two rounds.