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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 5 april 2018
Tiger's return to form could give heirs shot at the master

By JIM LITKE
AP Sports Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — All
three marveled at Tiger
Woods as youngsters, then
grew up and staked their
own place in the game.
Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm
and Jordan Spieth are stars
at every tour stop, ranked
Nos. 2, 3 and 4 in the world.
But this week at the Mas-
ters brings an eerily familiar
sight.
Though the game's once
most-dominating player
sits well below the trio — at
103rd in those same rank-
ings — they're all looking up
at Tiger Woods again.
"I know he wants to make
another run at us young
guns. And some of the old-
er guys," Thomas said, with-
out naming names, "have
been winning lately, so I
guess we need to try to get
our little streak back.
"But it's great for golf, great
for him and I'd cherish
the opportunity to be po-
tentially going down the
stretch with him to win a
tournament or a major, so Justin Thomas gestures on the 18th green during practice for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday,
who knows?" he added. April 3, 2018, in Augusta, Ga.
Much has been made of Associated Press
the stories passed on from
their elders, how unbeat- started clapping," he said. dable as Woods looked on got back to the top of the And yet, like Woods and
able Woods was coming "It doesn't happen for any- the small screen, playing game as he is about losing all the great golfers of that
down the stretch. body else." against him in person was to him on the golf course. generation, the young guns
"Anybody that played Spieth is by far the most even more daunting. As a member of the U.S. are driven by the same
against him," said Thomas, accomplished golfer of his "To be honest," Rahm said, team in the Presidents Cup, championship ethos: that
three weeks shy of his 25th generation, a three-time "I want and I don't want he recalled how Mickelson to be the best, you have to
birthday, "says you don't major winner who won't him to get back to the level and Woods, serving as an beat the best.
want that." turn 25 until late July. Yet he was when he was play- assistant captain, took turns And no target is more tan-
Rahm had no problem re- he's as susceptible to rub- ing great. I want him to, giving the younger players talizing than Woods once
lating. ber-necking as anyone because it would be great a hard time. again playing at his best.
His first memory of the Mas- when it comes to Woods. to see it again; I don't want "Everything they do is in "All I've done is watched
ters was in 2005, watching "The addition of Tiger be- him to, because he will good fun and it's not just and enjoyed it," Thomas
as a 10-year-old in Bar- ing healthy and playing be winning 30 percent of to each other," Spieth re- said.
rika, Spain. Because of the well, no matter what else the tournaments he plays, called. "And nobody really "Maybe I wouldn't enjoy
time difference, his parents happened, was probably which gives a lot less room dares go at either one of it so much if I was on the
taped the final round and going to make it as antici- for the rest of us to win." them, because we know other end, but I guess we'll
sent him to bed. When he pated as any," he said. In Spieth's case, he's al- they've got beef on us, and never know," he couldn't
turned the TV on that Mon- Spieth ticked off a list of most as worried about the accolades that we can resist adding mischievously,
day morning, what he saw other contenders who've verbal beating he'd take only dream of accomplish- "or maybe I will."
was pure magic: Woods' won recently or rounding at Woods' hands if ever ing." q
captivating chip-in at No. into top form: Phil Mickel-
16, followed by a win over son, Rory McIlroy, Bubba
Chris DiMarco in a playoff. Watson, Thomas and Dustin
"I think he's been an idol Johnson, the world No. 1.
to all of us, right?" Rahm "There's just a lot of guys
said. "If you don't use Tiger playing really good golf .
Woods as a reference in that, when it's on the big-
golf, I mean, it's pretty silly gest stage in our sport, I
not to do it." think that creates that kind
He wasn't alone. Rahm of anticipation," he said.
recalled standing on the Like Thomas, Spieth and
practice range earlier in Rahm have heard the
the week when Woods warnings from guys like
showed up. Mickelson, Ernie Els and
"Everybody stood up and Vijay Singh that as formi-