Warm applause surrounds Tiger Woods in Monday Practice at Masters

Tiger Woods spent time on the range and played nine holes with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples as large crowds returned to Augusta National Golf Club

89
Tiger Woods - Getty Images - The Masters

05 April 2022: The cat came back. After practicing in relative solitude late Sunday afternoon, Tiger Woods returned to Augusta National on Monday to further sharpen his game, this time in front of an army of adoring followers.

Woods’ early afternoon arrival at the Tournament Practice Area, where he hit balls and practiced his short game before playing nine holes, provided the latest indication that the five-time Masters winner is preparing to enter the field this week.

Other than teaming up with his son, Charlie, in a televised family tournament in December, Woods has not played competitively since incurring severe ankle and leg injuries in a single-car accident in Los Angeles County 14 months ago. On Sunday, he announced he would make a “game-time decision” on whether to compete in the Masters, where he won his fifth Green Jacket and his first major title in 11 years in 2019.

Just as he did on Sunday, the 46-year-old Woods showed few signs of being physically compromised. He walked with a slight limp. But as he went through his paces at the short-game area, practicing his chipping, pitching, and sand play, he showed balance and rhythm, seamlessly switching targets and varying the trajectories of his shots. His putting stroke was just as fluid, even metronomic.

His pre-round session complete, Woods headed to the first tee, joining Fred Couples and Justin Thomas for nine holes. Whereas on Sunday the course was closed to patrons, it was open to them on Monday, and Woods exerted a magnetic pull. People lined the fairways as his group leisurely made its way around the first nine.
Shouts of “Tiger!” and “Let’s go!” rang out as Woods and Couples ambled up the fairway together on the par-5 eighth hole. Having outdriven his playing partners by at least 25 yards, Woods took out a 3-wood and went for the green in two. He made a lashing swing, hitting a hard, low shot that bounded onto the green and rolled about 20 feet past the cup. Rather than grinding over the eagle putt, he casually stroked it near the cup, then putted to the expected hole locations to come later this week.

At No. 9, where patrons were standing 10 deep, Woods’ approach to a back flag bounced just over the green. His chip rimmed the hole, eliciting excitement from the gallery, and then he rolled putts to coasters placed where the cups are likely to be cut during the Tournament rounds.

Several minutes later, he picked up his balls, bumped fists with Thomas and Couples, and, as the two of them walked off the course, Woods headed to the Terrace Putting Green to put in still more work. Patrons ringed the green to watch Woods practice his stroke at the site of his victory ceremony three years ago.
“You gonna play, Tiger?” shouted one patron, asking the question of the week.

The answer may come on Tuesday: Woods has a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. He also has said he plans to attend the traditional Champions Dinner, hosted by Hideki Matsuyama, Tuesday night.

On Monday, after about 15 minutes of putting amid the lengthening shadows, Woods had had enough. He tossed a ball to a young boy beside the green and handed a second ball to another young fan. Then he strode to the Clubhouse, his work finished for the day.

 

Paul Rogers at Masters.com