Tiger Woods broke his public silence Monday and said his goal remains to play in the 2017 Masters.

“God, I hope so. I’m trying. I’m trying everything I can do to get back and play. I love that event. It’s meant so much to me in my life, It was the first major I ever played back in ’95 … It has so much history and meaning to me, I’d love to get back,” Woods said live on “Good Morning America” while being interviewed by Michael Strahan. “I need to get back physically. The mind is sharp. I need to get the body willing to do it.”

Woods turned 41 on Dec. 30 and admits the physical challenges remain paramount. “That’s the hard part, getting the prep time in. I haven’t been able to get as much prep time in training like I used to (or) practice like I used to. It’s been harder. My priorities have changed a lot. My kids dominate my life. And I think that’s a good thing.”

Woods was discussing his new book: “The 1997 Masters – My Story.”

“Hard to believe. My clothes didn’t fit. It was a different era,” he said of that milestone victory in 1997.

Woods hasn’t spoken in public since a taped interview preceding the Dubai Classic in early February.

Woods returned to action in December at the Hero World Challenge after missing nearly 16 months. He set an enthusiastic schedule and hoped to play four events in five weeks to start the season. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open and lasted one round in Dubai. He then skipped the Genesis Open, Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to recurring back spasms.

It has been 20 years since Woods won the first of his four green jackets at Augusta. Tiger was 21 at the time. He has missed two of the last three years at Augusta.

Friday, Mark Steinberg, Tiger’s agent, told Golf Channel’s Tim Rosaforte: “We’re not in a situation to even talk about playing in the Masters now. He’s gotten treatments and is progressing and hoping he can do it. There’s not been a decision one way or the other. I couldn’t give you a fair assessment, but to say it’s doubtful is an absolutely inaccurate statement.”

Asked if Woods has been hitting balls and putting at his compound on Jupiter Island, Steinberg told Rosaforte: “I don’t want to talk about specifics yet. When we’re ready to get into that, we’ll disclose it. He’s working hard at getting better, he’s working hard at progressing.”