Once more, the Masters belonged to Tiger

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Once again, the Masters belonged to a master, taking us back in time to what not even half a year ago seemed an impossible dream.

Tiger Woods got around Augusta National on Thursday without a limp and with only two bogies.

That after an opening-round 1-under-par 71 he was several shots out of the lead that mattered much less than the fact he was very much in the tournament.

It was Feb. 23, 2021, that Woods was in a rollover car accident so serious one law enforcement official insisted Tiger was fortunate to survive. 

His right foot had to be reattached, and the thought of him walking normally again, much less a full 18 holes in a round at one of game’s most difficult courses, seemed unlikely.

But there he was, wearing a glowing pink shirt and hollered on by a massive crowd of fans — sorry, patrons — saving pars and, some cynics might say, golf itself.

Even nature seemed to be welcoming Woods and the Masters, the sun making an appearance after days of thunderstorms that drenched the property to the point that play Thursday was delayed a half hour.

But once it began, golf got the unexpected joy of Woods, who roamed from one hole to the next and kept adding followers, like the Pied Piper.

Sure, there were other golfers on the course, including the Australian Cameron Smith, who double-bogied one, double-bogied 18 and still had a 4-under 68, a shot behind leader Sungie Im. But they were bit players in this story.

Woods, now 46, won five Masters in his younger, dominant days (one fewer than the record six of Jack Nicklaus), and because of his history (including but not limited to the auto crash), you’d have to say he didn’t disappoint us. Or himself, although certainly he hoped (if not planned) to be in first place, no matter the circumstances.

The first question to Woods after he signed his scorecard was an interesting one: “Considering what’s transpired over the last 14 months, how would you describe your emotions leading to the first shot on the first tee this morning?”

Woods had prepared himself, as he always does for any situation, discourse or divots. From the moment he arrived, there were cameras as well as curiosity.

“Well, I did not have a very good warmup at all,” Woods began. “I hit it awful. As my dad (used to say), did you accomplish your task?

“That’s exactly what I did (mentally), not blocking physically to avoid hitting a hook. I felt, hey, I’m warm. Go play. Let’s just go get it done. You know where to put it. Execute each shot.”

If that sounds like somebody who has just taken a lesson, not somebody who has won 82 PGA Tour events, well, even the greatest are prone to slipping back on occasion, if not for long.

And not having competed in any regular tournament for more than a year, much less a major such as the Masters, Woods had to have some nerves. 

“I was able to get to the red,” he said, talking about the numbers on the scoreboard designating under par.  “I made two stupid mistakes (the bogies). But to end up in the red, that’s right where I want to be.” 

Tiger is right where the golfing public, and the media, want him to be, playing again where he gained fame.

“The thing I came up here for,” he said, “was a test run to see if I was able play 27 holes (including the par-3 contest). And once the adrenaline kicks in, I get fired up and into my world.”

An opening day of the Masters again belonged to Tiger.