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SPORTS Wednesday 10 april 2019
Can Tiger Woods still win the Masters at 43?

By TIM DAHLBERG Indeed, whether he can do morning tee time on Thurs-
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Ti- it at the place he first put his day, playing with Spain's
ger Woods had the putting stamp on the game with a John Rahm and China's
green pretty much to him- runaway victory at the age Haotong Li, both of whom
self as storms approached of 21 remains a question were a year old when
Augusta National on Mon- that Woods probably can't Woods won his first pro
day. As a handful of fans lin- answer until he's done it. tournament in Las Vegas in
gered to watch, he stroked He's 43 now, something 1996.
the 5-footers that always that comes into focus when With age, though, comes
seemed to go in during his he removes his hat and his wisdom. And as Nicklaus
prime. bald spot seems bigger showed in his late career
It's been 14 years since than ever. That's ancient in performances, knowing
enough went in to win on most sports but not terribly where to play shots and
the fabled greens of Au- out of place in a tourna- where to miss them at Au-
gusta National. Even more ment Nicklaus won at the gusta National is half the
startling, it's been 11 years age of 46 in 1986. puzzle of winning.
since Woods won a major As if to prove it wasn't a "I've got a pretty good little
of any kind. fluke, Nicklaus was con- library in my head of how Tiger Woods smiles on the driving range at the Masters golf tour-
His believers — and there tending for the lead on the to play the course," Woods nament Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Augusta, Ga.
are legions of them — are weekend a dozen years said. Associated Press
hopeful that might change later before settling for sixth That library will be open for
this week, if only because place, a feat that was al- business as Woods begins ers who are among the fa- compete.
optimism is always at its most as remarkable as his play in his 22nd Masters. vorites. Will he win?
peak before the first tee sixth win. He's not the favorite — Rory Can he win? Of course, Well, there's a reason he's
shot is hit. The old Tiger may Augusta National has McIlroy has that honor — because even at 43 he's been spending a lot of time
not be fully back, but the changed since, length- but he's in a group of play- still got plenty of game to practicing 5-footers.q
prevailing thought is there's ened first to make it Tiger-
enough of his greatness left proof and then again when
to fit comfortably inside a the green jackets running
green jacket come late the place realized the new
Sunday afternoon. generation of players can
Count Woods among the all bomb the ball incredible
believers. distances.
"I know I can play this golf But it still rewards those
course," he said. "I've had with a great short game
some success here." and those who can putt
Indeed he has, with four the slippery greens under
green jackets stitched with pressure. And that remains
his name. That's a haul that problematic for Woods, last
by itself qualifies him as seen on national television
one of the greatest players missing a short putt to lose
ever, though it is two short to little-known Lucas Bjer-
of the collection won by regaard with a berth in the
Jack Nicklaus. semifinals of the Dell Tech-
But it isn't what Woods or nologies Match Play tour-
anyone else expected af- nament last month.
ter he won his first four in just "I feel I can still putt," Woods
nine years. Nicklaus him- said. "The hardest part is I
self predicted that Woods just can't practice like I used
would win 10 green jackets to. My back gets sore."
on his way to obliterating Wear and tear is an issue
Nicklaus' record of 18 major for any older athlete, and
championships. Woods is no exception.
The reasons Woods hasn't, Though finally able to swing
of course, have been well freely after back surgery,
documented over the he says he can't put the
years. But a victory in the kind of time in on any part
Tour Championship last of his game that he once
year not only showed he did.
can still compete and win But on Tuesday, he was at
at the highest level but his usual spot at the end of
gave Woods some sorely the driving range, working
needed confidence head- his way through every club
ing into the first major of the in the bag. He took his time
year. between shots, and at one
"I think that winning at (the point put his club down and
Tour Championship) con- went to talk to Kevin Kisner
firmed to me that I could a few spots away and then
still win again," Woods said. to look at Bryson DeCham-
"You have to do it first in or- beau hit shots with his single
der to truly understand that length irons.
you can do it." Woods shares a prime late-