The 2020 calendar year has not been very kind to Tiger Woods.

But the 15-time major champion is returning to the Zozo Championship with one goal in mind: defending his 2019 Masters crown at Augusta National in November.

Woods, who won the Zozo last year, said he is hoping to use the tournament as a possible tune-up for The Masters, which has traditionally been his favorite tournament.

Tiger also said he would consider playing in the Houston Open the week before the Masters. But given he is hoping to rest his surgically repaired back as often as possible, the Zozo offers the best chance to prepare:

“My plan is just to play and practice,” Woods said, via AFP. “This entire year has been different for all of us. My run-up to Augusta is unlike anything I've ever experienced. That's just the way it is.

“The whole idea is to be ready in a few weeks and whether or not that's playing one more event or just playing here at Zozo, just making sure that I'm ready for Augusta.”

Tiger Woods is still chasing Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 grand-slam titles. His Masters win last year came 11 years after his previous major win, at the 2008 U.S. Open.

But Tiger has not had success in the majors this year. He finished in a tie for 37th place at the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, and missed the cut at last month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

However, the esteemed golfer always seems to ramp it up in time for Augusta, and Woods will look to defend his crown at the Zozo while building momentum for The Masters.