The gates to Augusta National opened a bit after 7 am Monday. It did not really feel as if Masters week began till simply earlier than 3 pm
Tiger Woods was on the primary tee, and this was no time to be searching for shirts and caps or standing in line for pimento cheese sandwiches. That a lot was evident by the largest golf crowd this 12 months on one gap apart from the circus par-3 sixteenth on the Phoenix Open.
Woods consumes consideration at each Masters he performs. It’s been that method for the reason that first of his 5 inexperienced jackets he received 25 years in the past.
Now it is even higher below these uncommon circumstances.
He hasn’t performed in opposition to one of the best in 17 months, not for the reason that 2020 Masters in November, whereas recovering from a automotive crash that after seemed as if it would finish his profession. And nonetheless to be decided is whether or not he performs this one.
Tiger Woods tees off on the third gap throughout a follow spherical for the Masters golf event. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Woods has mentioned it could be a “game-time” resolution whether or not his battered proper leg and ankle can deal with strolling and competing over 18 holes at Augusta National.
“There’s always buzz around this place,” Billy Horschel mentioned. “But there’s just another level of buzz to see him and see him play. I’ve thought about it in the past, and I may be on the first tee watching him tee off if my tee works out and everything, just because it’s a special moment.”
It’s not as if this Masters was devoid of drama.
Rory McIlroy will get one other crack on the profession Grand Slam. He spent Monday in an Irish fourball alongside Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Seamus Power. They have eight majors amongst them; Power is making his Masters debut.
Tiger Woods walks on the third inexperienced throughout a follow spherical for the Masters golf event. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Bryson DeChambeau is again, although he says his docs do not suggest it.
DeChambeau mentioned he first harm his left hip two years in the past whereas pace coaching — swinging as quick as his physique allowed — and slipping on concrete.
Then, he did not work on finger power, and that led to a popping sound in his wrist earlier than his TV match in opposition to Brooks Koepka in Las Vegas final November. That led to a hairline fracture of his hamate bone in his left hand. And then he slipped on marble whereas taking part in desk tennis is Saudi Arabia in early February, went horizontal and landed on his hand and his hip.
He declared himself 80%, although he preferred the best way he felt coming into the Masters. DeChambeau hasn’t made a 36-hole reduce since The Northern Trust in late August — then once more, he has performed solely eight occasions since then, six of these tournaments with no reduce.
“The past few weeks have been very, very difficult on me, not playing well and not hitting it anywhere near where I know I should be hitting it,” he mentioned. “Yelling ‘Fore!’ off the tee every time is just not fun. It’s very difficult on your mental psyche as well.”
Tiger Woods walks down the fourth fairway throughout a follow spherical for the Masters golf event. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Playing the Masters was a “huge risk” a couple of weeks in the past and a choice he mentioned his docs didn’t suggest. He was day after day till he felt snug giving it a go.
“Different situation than Tiger, obviously, but it was definitely a day-by-day process of figuring out if I could do this,” he mentioned.
So a lot goes again to Woods, who had damaged bones in his proper leg and ankle from the automotive crash outdoors Los Angeles in February 2021 that left him immobilized for 3 months and never swinging a membership till final November.
Brooks Koepka is aware of a factor or two about taking part in with damage, even when not as many had been folks had been paying consideration.
Koepka had surgical procedure on his proper knee three weeks earlier than the Masters final 12 months and nonetheless was decided to play. It was so dangerous he could not crouch to learn putts. Koepka is lastly again at full power, although he nonetheless hasn’t received for the reason that Phoenix Open greater than a 12 months in the past.
He is extra involved along with his personal recreation that what Woods is happening, although Koepka can recognize the stroll Woods is dealing with higher than most gamers.
“Look, I’m happy he’s becoming healthier and able to play golf,” Koepka mentioned. “We want him, the sport wants him, all people wants him, the followers want him, all that stuff. But on the finish of the day all people is simply out competing. I’m nervous about myself and I’m certain all people else is nervous about themselves.”
Koepka mentioned he required cortisone pictures simply to play. Throw within the hours to organize earlier than the spherical and to get better after the spherical, and that has led to some lengthy days.
“I understand what he’s up against. It’ll be difficult. But if anybody can do it, it’s him,” Koepka said. “I don’t know everything he’s going through. His was a lot worse than mine, so I’m not trying to compare it. I just know it’s difficult walking this place when you don’t have the same body parts you’re used to.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
