Tigers Woods was the dominant figure at Augusta National during the practice round on Tuesday, April 4, as representatives of the media and the patrons all wanted to see and hear from Woods.
This will be his first appearance in a tournament since he played in the Genesis Invitational back in February. The five-time Masters champion will be looking to find the same level of game that he had back in 2019—22 years after he won his first Masters.
Last year Woods said that he would not compete in the tournament if he felt like he couldn’t win. However, despite a still gimpy right leg, he entered the tournament and made the cut for the 22nd straight time. (Only Fred Couples and Gary Player have had longer made-cuts streaks at the Masters.) Woods would end up in 47th place last April at 13 over par.
“It’s different,” said Woods. “I didn’t win the tournament (last year), but for me to be able to come back and play was a small victory in itself.”
While Tiger is no longer the same golfer he was when he was winning 14 of his 15 majors, he’ll be the first to tell you that he has something that most golfers don’t have—and that is he has an abundance of knowledge about how to play the course.
“You couldn’t draw up a golf course that has more variable winds and more penalties for a shot that is one yard off,” said Woods of Augusta National. “A shot that is one yard off can mean 40, 50 feet on a putt. It’s just understanding that, having that patience and that knowledge.”
This week will be his 25th appearance at the Masters, so there will be very few if any in the field who understand the golf course as well as he does. Jack Nicklaus is the only player in history who has won it more times—six—and the 83-year-old Nicklaus will only be an honorary starter.
When it comes to competing in the Masters, Woods knows that competitors like defending champion Scottie Scheffler, World No. 2 Rory McIlroy and No. 3 Jon Rahm are probably the players to beat. However, as much as those talented young players present competitive hurdles for Woods, the thing he’ll have to compete against the most will be his right leg—seriously injured in his automobile accident in February 2021. Last year, he noticeably limped and even used one of his woods as a a sort of cane.
“Yeah, mobility, it’s not where I would like it, but it’s—as I sit here—I’ve said to you guys before, I’m very lucky to have this leg; it’s mine. Yes, it had been altered and there’s some hardware in there, but it’s still mine,” said Woods. “It has been tough and will always be tough. The ability and endurance of what my leg will do going forward will never be the same. I understand that. That’s why I can’t prepare and play as many tournaments as I like, but that’s my future, and that’s OK. I’m OK with that.”
Woods took time off the past month to prepare for the Masters tournament and has the opportunity to make the cut and perhaps compete on Saturday and Sunday with Scheffler, Rahm, McIlroy and all the other outstanding younger golfers.
Whether or not he wins, 40,000 people will be following him around because Tiger Woods is still the face of this tournament.
With Tigers’ mobility in question no one knows when it will be his last tournament.
“Yeah, I don’t know how many more I have in me,” said Woods, “so I just want to be able to appreciate the time that I have here and cherish the memories.”
Hopefully, Woods, 47, will be playing as long as his friend Couples has—Couples is here this week and is in his 60s. The two greeted each other on the practice range Tuesday.
Memories will definitely be made at the Augusta National this week, and there’s nothing better than when Tiger Woods is making them.
“The overall desire to win has always been there,” said Woods, “and I’ve always worked at it and believed in what I could do.”
And so do all those loyal fans who will watch his every shot at Augusta National this week.
