AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods was on the back end of the 18th green at Augusta National on Thursday, trying to make a birdie putt to finish off his opening round of the 2018 Masters. He would miss the putt and settle for par, but Woods allowed himself to enjoy a moment of triumph.
It was his first round of a major championship in nearly three years and his first at the Masters since 2015. Try telling Tiger Woods it was just another day at the office.
“It felt great to be back out there,” he said after shooting a 1-over 73, seven shots behind leader Jordan Spieth. “I’ve only come up here the last couple of years just to have food. It’s nice to get out here and play.”
Woods didn’t just play; he battled to stay in contention. After a bogey at the par-3 12th hole where he put his tee-shot in the water, Woods made birdies at the par-4 14th and the par-3 16th to feel good about his round.
“I could have easily let the round slip away from me and go the other way, but I got it back and I’m right back in this tournament,” he said, adding, “By the end of the week this is going to be a pretty packed leaderboard the way the golf course is set up. They’ve got it right where they want it. By the end of the week, there will be a bunch of guys with a chance to win this tournament.”
Woods will have no chance at his fifth green jacket unless he improves his score on the par 5s. He played all four in even par, which amounts to giving away strokes at the Masters.
“If I clean up the par 5s, I’m right up that board,” he said.
Aside from popping Ibuprofen at the turn, there was little physical evidence Woods had lower-back fusion surgery less than a year ago and had been away from golf for nearly four years. But the adoration he received from the patrons let him know he was missed.
He received a standing ovation when he went to the practice range and another ovation when he went to the putting green. Someone offered a “Welcome back, Tiger” at nearly every hole. “People have been awesome this entire comeback,” Woods said. “They’re really into it.”
His only real mistakes came as he entered Amen Corner. His tee-shot at the par-4 11th hole went way right. His punch out would have been better had it not been clipped by patrons along the right side of the fairway. A chip left him with about a 20-foot putt for par that he missed. He then moved to the par-3 12th where he put his tee-shot in the water and took another bogey to drop to 3-over.
“I just made a terrible golf shot,” Woods said of the 12th. “I tried to take something off a 9-iron and just stuck it in the ground.”
The 6-footer for birdie at the 14th and the 15-footer from below the hole at the 16th kept him in the tournament.
“I could have easily let it slip away and I fought hard to get back in there,” Woods said. “I’m right back in this championship. There are a lot of holes to be played. It’s going to be packed and the weather is going to be changing. So it’s going to be a fun test the next 54 holes.”
Woods has shot in the 60s just once during his 21-year Masters career, that coming in 2010 when he managed a 68, so being in the low 70s after 18 holes is a familiar feeling. When he won his fourth jacket in 2005, he stood at 74 after the opening round.
Tiger Woods is right where he wants to be, playing in the Masters at Augusta National.
