Tiger Woods aside, the field is looking healthy for the Masters

Tiger Woods and his surgically repaired back certainly won’t be teeing off at Augusta National this week, but it seems the rest of the injury list for the Masters has dwindled considerably.

As recently as a week ago, there had been concern about numerous stars pulling out of the first major championship of the season.

The list of questionables included Phil Mickelson, who was battling a pulled muscle. He finished four rounds at the Shell Houston Open on Sunday and announced that he “didn’t feel any discomfort swinging and playing and the game is not far off.”

Jason Day, who has missed tournaments with a sore thumb, reportedly played a practice round at Augusta over the weekend and, despite wrapping on his injured hand, declared himself ready.

Allergy problems don’t figure to keep Bubba Watson off the Masters course when first-round play begins Thursday, and Hunter Mahan, who recently withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with back soreness, finished the Houston tournament.

Dustin Johnson, who cited a stiff back when he withdrew in Texas after a first-round 80, is also expected to compete.

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