Tiger Woods teed off in the opening round of the Masters on Thursday, continuing his incredible comeback from a car accident that left him with significant leg injuries in February 2021.
After the first round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club tournament was postponed due to severe weather in Augusta, Georgia, Woods played in Group 14 alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.
As his name was called, the crowd erupted in cheers for Woods, who was dressed in a pink shirt. Woods earned more applause from the crowd after nailing his first drive.Tiger Woods, Joaquin Niemann, and Louis Oosthuizen are among the players who will meet at the first tee of the Masters' first round.
The 46-year-drive old's wasn't great, but he made par on the first hole, much to the joy of the onlookers.
Woods' first birdie came on the sixth hole, after a great tee shot left him with a short putt to get to par for the first time.
Woods did, however, finish the front nine level par after bogeying the eighth hole.After a birdie on the par-five 13th hole, he fell back under par, only to be pegged back to level par the next hole.
On the 16th hole, Woods showed some of the tenacity he's been known for during his brilliant career, rolling in a tough putt for another birdie and celebrating with a customary fistpump to the pleasure of the crowds who had gathered.
Despite a sloppy tee shot on the 18th hole, Woods salvaged a par, giving him a one-under par 71, signaling a successful comeback to professional golf after nearly 17 months away.
Woods stated that he was "as sore as I anticipated to feel" after his opening round, but that it felt "wonderful" to be back on the course.
He told the media, "I was warning the squad all week that come game time, it will be a different thing." "I'm going to have a rush of adrenaline." I'll retreat into my own world and get down to business. It all comes down to the preparation we've put in to be able to go."Yes, I'll be sore." That's simply how things are. However, we've had several training cycles to ensure that I have the stamina to continue — and this is only the first round. We're down to our last three. There is still a long way to go and many shots to be taken."
"I can hit a golf ball," Woods continued. It is difficult to walk since it is not easy. As I previously stated, my leg will be challenging for the rest of my life, as a result of all of my hard work. That's how things are, but I'm capable of handling it." That's something I'm incredibly fortunate to have, to be able to play in the Masters and to receive such a warm welcome."
Im Sung-jae of South Korea led the field with a five-under-par total at the end of Thursday.Woods was supposed to start his round at 10:34 a.m. ET, but due to the weather delay, he didn't start until almost 11 a.m. ET. On Friday, his group will tee off for the second round at 1:41 p.m. ET.
"It's a miraculous thing," said Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion. "I was weeping like a baby every day fourteen months ago, and today… he looks powerful." I know his leg hurts, but he's hitting it far enough to play this course, and he knows what he's doing because he's won a lot of tournaments here."
When Woods' private plane was spotted landing at an airfield near Augusta last week, speculation over his participation in the event began to grow.
Woods has only played in public on a golf course once since his car accident, at the PNC Championship in December with his son Charlie. Woods then used a golf cart to navigate around the course."The most difficult thing is walking. To begin with, this is not an easy walk "Woods told the PGA Tour of Augusta National's mountainous course.
"It's a little more difficult now that my leg is in such bad shape. It's a long road with 72 holes. It'll be a difficult task, but one I'm willing to take on."Woods' career entered a downhill spiral after a near-complete dominance of men's golf at the beginning of his career.
In 2019, Woods won the Masters, ending an 11-year drought between his 14th and 15th major victories.
"I'm not afraid of watching Tiger Woods hit a ball because he's the best player I've ever seen," Couples continued.
"He's won a lot of awards, and he's not the type to settle for second best. He'll compete, and he'll be prepared to take on the challenge. I think his presence out here is incredible."
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