Jim Souhan live at the Masters: Tiger Woods is in; Fargo golfer Tom Hoge practices with Spieth

AUGUSTA, Ga — Tuesday afternoon update from Augusta National.

The big national story here today: Tiger Woods saying he plans to play on Thursday. Woods said his surgically-repaired right leg limits his mobility but allows him to swing with power, and he sounded in good spirits during his late-morning press conference. Fred Couples, who played the practice round with him, said Woods was "bombing it.''

The big local story for the Upper Midwest: Fargo's Tom Hoge played the back nine with Jordan Spieth, J.J. Spaun and Daniel Berger and said he enjoyed himself.

I'll have more on Woods and Hoge in the Star Tribune and at startribune.com.

Also, Justin Thomas admitted that he has performed poorly in majors because he has put too much pressure on himself.

Practice rounds were suspended and patrons asked to leave the course during a thunderstorm that started in late morning and is still going on mid-afternoon.

Tuesday night, reigning Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama will host the Champions Dinner. Woods said the best part of the dinner is "this fraternity'' needling each other in ways that can't be repeated publicly.

Wednesday, more rain is forecast, although Thursday is supposed to be clear, and Masters chairman Fred Ridley will hold a press conference. Players can play practice rounds in the morning, and the par-3 tournament will be held in the afternoon.

I'll be covering The Masters for the Star Tribune all week. It's Tuesday morning and this is my first dispatch from Augusta National, where it is dark, save for the acres of floodlights around the course that illuminate the many free parking lots.

BREAKING: Woods planning to play Masters

I've been lucky to cover about a dozen Masters, starting in 2005, when I followed Tiger Woods for 15 holes on Sunday before deciding to skip ahead to the press stands ,which no longer exist, on 18 to secure a seat for the finish.

As I walked up the hill, I heard the loudest roar I've ever heard here. Tiger had just watched his chip shot topple into the hole on 16 for his famous birdie, on his way to beating Chris DiMarco on the first hole of a playoff.

For someone who cut his teeth covering football and baseball, golf coverage is different. You're never sure you're in the right place, and you're always sure you're missing something on the course.

Augusta National's press building is ridiculously large and beautiful, and is situated at the far end of the driving range. It used to be far less nice, but located next to the first fairway. Now we take a medium-long walk or a quick golf cart shuttle to get to the course.

Unlike many PGA tournaments, there is no inside-the-ropes access for print journalists here, and we no longer have access to the locker room, or are allowed to interview players coming off the 18th green. All interviews are done in the interview room or at a quick-quotes area near the clubhouse.

The forecast is for rain today and Wednesday, and for cool temperatures on Saturday.

Tiger Woods will be one of the players coming to the interview room this morning, and his attempt to play less than 14 months after suffering severe leg injuries in a car wreck is the dominant story line here.

Woods is 46, the same age as Jack Nicklaus when he won his last Masters. Of course, Woods can't win under these conditions. He's been practicing at Augusta National since late last week, seeing if he can recover well enough to play four consecutive rounds.

Augusta National is far hillier than it seems on TV. It's a challenge to walk if you aren't healthy or in good shape.

Nobody thinks Woods can win this week. Not many people thought he could win here in 2019, when he won his first major since 2008 — when he won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines while limping. He would have knee surgery right after winning.

There are two local angles for Minnesotans this week — Fargo's Tom Hoge, who played a lot of junior golf in Minnesota, and former Gopher Erik van Rooyen, of South Africa. It wouldn't be surprising to see either contend.

I'll be filing updates during the day to Startribune.com, and, as always, I recommend picking up the print edition of the paper to see our layout, photos, and the work of all our writers.