Only 14 months after he was pulled from a mangled car following a single-car accident in California, Tiger Woods has defied the odds to begin the 2022 Masters with a solid, under par round.
Woods, who admitted amputating his right leg after the car crash in Los Angeles in February 2020 was an option considered, limped around Augusta National but managed a one-under-par 71 on Thursday.
The 2019 Masters winner – now world No.973 – played in front of enormous galleries even for his standards in his first official tournament since the 2020 Masters held in November.
The 46-year-old was rusty. The only par-5 of Augusta’s four that he birdied was the 13th, and he bogeyed the par-5 eighth from 50 yards.
But Woods was still impressive as he went out in even-par 36 and home in 35 to shoot a 71. He saved par on 18 to sit three shots behind clubhouse leader, Australia’s Cam Smith (68), and to leave hope of remaining in contention.
A par save to end the round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/oCkL7N54Yb
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2022
The last time Woods played golf on TV was an exhibition tournament with his son Charlie in December last year, although he rode in a golf cart and let Charlie hit a lot of the scramble shots.
Still, he was satisfied with his return to the Masters, a Major he’s won five times.
“I’m only three back, Woods said after his round. “To finish in the red today after as long a layoff as I’ve had and not being in competitive golf (is a positive). I don’t really consider a scramble (the father-son event he played in with Charlie Woods in December) to be competitive. It’s not like this. This is totally different.
“I was able to make a few putts and end up in the red like I am now.”
Woods had enormous crowds on Thursday at the Masters.
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