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A16 sports
Friday 8 april 2022

Tiger Time: Woods thrills patrons with Masters comeback

By PAUL NEWBERRY 15 major titles — the first of
AP Sports Writer them 25 years ago at this
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — He very place — and capture
walked among the azaleas a record-tying 82 victories
with just the slightest hint of on the PGA Tour.
a limp. Beginning at No. 7, he
He couldn't quite bend missed the green on five
over to read the putts on straight holes, but kept re-
Augusta National's tricky covering with his short irons
greens. and putter.
Otherwise, there was noth- Wearing a pink shirt and
ing to indicate that Tiger black pants, Woods was
Woods nearly lost his right greeted by thunderous
leg 14 months ago in a applause when his name
devastating car wreck. was announced to a huge
Woods' greatest come- gallery surrounding the first
back yet got off to an elec- tee.
trifying start Thursday when Woods failed to make solid
he shot a 1-under 71 in the contact with his first shot: a
opening round of the Mas- 264-yard drive that faded
ters. behind a bunker on the
"To end up in the red," he right side of the fairway.
said confidently, "I'm right His approach rolled off the
where I need to be." Tiger Woods holds up his ball after a birdie on the 13th hole during the first round at the Masters golf front of the green, but he
As Woods walked briskly to- tournament on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Augusta, Ga. sank a 10-foot putt to save
ward the clubhouse after a Associated Press par, bringing another huge
grueling day that stretched Yep, there's still a long way From the collapse of his leg might need to be am- roar from the patrons.
to nearly 5 1/2 hours, he to go. Woods still must marriage to multiple sur- putated. He couldn't fully bend over
heard shouts of "Way to go, prove his body can bounce geries, Woods has always Woods started the round to read putts, forcing him
Tiger!" from the spectators. back day after day — four found a way to bounce with five straight pars — he to rely more on caddie Joe
He was just three strokes off of them, should he make it back. just missed a birdie at the LaCava to help him judge
the lead - with roughly half to Sunday. He's doing it again, looking tough No. 5 hole when a the treacherous greens at
the field still on the course But it felt as if he was al- every bit like the guy who's 15-foot putt lipped out — Augusta National.
- after making three bird- ready a winner. won five green jackets and before delivering a vintage But those felt like minor in-
ies, a pair of bogeys and "You just can't not watch defied the odds time and tee shot at the par-3 sixth. conveniences after all he's
a whole lot of solid pars — him," said Australia's Cam- time again. The ball climbed up a ridge been through.
many of them salvaged by eron Smith, among those A tap-in birdie at No. 6 sent on the green and stopped Woods' career was in jeop-
his deft touch around the tied for the lead after shoot- the patrons into a frenzy. A 2 feet short of the flag, leav- ardy after the car wreck
greens. ing a 68. "It's an inspiration sloppy bogey at the par- ing Woods with a gimme left him confined to a hos-
Woods pulled off one last with him coming back and 5 eighth brought some that put him in red numbers pital bed for three months.
Houdini act at No. 18. After playing golf." groans, but Woods' bril- for the first time. Woods was out of the pub-
yanking his tee shot into the With storm clouds giving liant short game kept him A wedge shot and errant lic eye until last November,
towering pine trees on the way to brilliant spring sun- from posting one of those chip led to a bogey at No. when he posted a video of
right, he had to lay up short shine, Woods defied every- big numbers that can spell 8, a hole that should be a him swinging a club with a
of the green. one's expectations. doom at Augusta. prime birdie opportunity. simple message, "Making
But he pitched to 6 feet Except his own. He made it clear he had "A loss of concentration progress."
and rolled in the putt to When Woods delivered every intention of winning there," he moaned. His lone tournament in
keep his score under par. an emphatic clutch of the when he decided to make But Woods bounced back the 508 days since he last
"I felt good," Woods said. right fist after rolling in a the Masters his first com- with a tricky downhiller from competed was a just-for-
"Once the adrenaline kicks 30-footer for birdie at the petitive tournament since 8 feet to save par at No. 9. fun event in December in
in and I get into my own lit- 16th hole, it seemed like old that horrific car wreck in Woods insisted his hands which he rode in a cart and
tle world, I knew I should be times at one of golf's most February 2021 led him to still held the amazing touch was paired with his 13-year-
able to handle business." hallowed courses. say doctors said his right that has helped him win old son, Charlie.q