Tiger Woods expects awkward Masters champions dinner with LIV rebels

• Woods makes PGA Tour return this week at Genesis Invitational
• Former world No 1: I don't know what the reaction's going to be'

Tiger Woods has admitted this year's champions dinner at Augusta National will inevitably involve awkward moments as he comes face-to-face with LIV rebels.

Speaking ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational, where he will make a first playing appearance since last summer's Open Championship, Woods implied he fully intends to tee up at the Masters in April. That week will include a dinner for which LIV's Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia will, like Woods, receive invitations as past recipients of the Green Jacket. Woods has been staunch in his defence of golf's ecosystem against the LIV plan. The others find themselves ostracised from the PGA Tour. Mickelson was a notable absentee as Woods received honorary membership of the Royal & Ancient Club in July.