By Rahul Banerji
Tiger Woods returned to the Augusta National Golf Club for the first time in almost two years and instantly turned it into a personal carnival.
Since Sunday, Tiger has stalked the course playing practice rounds, and the crowds that have turned out are just incredible. Remember, this was even before he had confirmed entry for the event.
Spectators lined fairways and greens 10 and 12 deep to watch the era’s most iconic golfer hit the ball, and boy, did Tiger belt the ball.
“He was flushing it,” said good friend Fred Couples after playing with Woods and Justin Thomas on Monday.
“To hit it like that, now it’s just the walking part,” Couples added. “If he can walk around here for 72 holes, he’ll contend. He’s too good.”
Woods played nine holes each on Sunday and Monday and was on the range on Tuesday.
Encouraging stats
Data from this short phase indicated ball speeds higher than the current PGA Tour average (174 mph) and a 290-yard carry with the driver.
Last week, he was at Augusta National where he played 27 holes with his son Charlie to judge where the recovery from his horrifying car accident had reached. Also, if his foot could survive the walk.
And when Tiger said on Tuesday he was planning to play the Masters 25 years after his record-making 12-shot first win, the Internet caught fire. Tiger Woods was everywhere.
“As of right now, I feel like I am going to play,” Woods said at Tuesday’s press conference. “As of right now.”
“My recovery has been good. I’ve been very excited about how I’ve recovered each and every day.
“That’s the challenge. … It’s the recovery, how am I going to get the swelling out and recover for the next day. Have another day of nine more holes and then game time.”
“I feel like I can still do it. I still have the hands to do it, the body is moving good enough. I have been in worse situations and won tournaments.
“I feel like if I can still compete at the highest level I am going to, but if I feel like I can’t, you won’t see me out here.”
“I can hit it just fine,” he said. “I don’t have any qualms about what I can do physically from a golf standpoint.
“Walking is the hard part. This is not an easy walk to begin with. With the conditions my leg is in, it gets a little bit more difficult.
“Seventy-two holes is a long road. It’s going to be a tough challenge and a challenge I’m up for.”
Ready to challenge
Asked if he thought he could equal Jack Nicklaus’ record of six titles (Tiger has won the Masters five times) he said: “I don’t show up to an event unless I think I can win it.”
“The fact that I was able to get myself here at this point was a success and now that I am playing, everything is focused on getting in that position on the back nine on Sunday with a chance like I did a few years ago.”
Tiger played the 2020 Masters as defending champion and three months later, was in a Los Angeles hospital and in danger of losing his right foot.
Few then gave him a chance of even walking normally again, leave along competing.
So the fact that he was at Augusta over the weekend itself was an event.
And what a ride it promises to be if he does get to that first tee-off on Thursday morning along with Louis Oosthuizen and Joaquin Niemann.
Also read: Tiger Woods inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame by his daughter Sam
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