Tiger Woods finishes Masters first round a few strokes off from leaders

Tiger Woods completed the primary spherical of the Masters taking pictures a 71 and ending 1-under par for the course.

Woods saved par 13 instances, had three birdies and bogeyed twice in his first full spherical at a significant occasion in about 17 months. As he walked to the inexperienced on the 18th gap, he obtained an enormous standing ovation.

Woods wrapped the 18th gap with par. He shot a 36 on the entrance 9 and a 35 on the again 9.

The legendary golfer trotted to the primary tee field to the roar of the group at Augusta Nationwide Golf Course. He introduced he was planning to play within the match Tuesday. However there was all the time an opportunity he was nonetheless hurting from devastating leg accidents suffered in a 2021 automotive crash.

Woods had shades of his previous self with birdies on the sixth, thirteenth and sixteenth holes. He fist-pumped after nailing the birdie on 16.

LIVE COVERAGE: 2022 MASTERS

He gave the impression to be inside placing distance of the leaders as he accomplished. Cameron Smith, Danny Willett, Sungjae Im and Woods’ groupmate Joaquin Niemann had been among the many leaders as he wrapped up.

Tiger Woods swings on the primary gap on the Masters on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Augusta, Georgia.
(AP Photograph/Matt Slocum)

Woods was requested Tuesday whether or not he thinks he might win this weekend.

His easy response: “I do.”

He added: “I can hit it simply nice. I haven’t got any qualms about what I can do bodily from a golf standpoint. Strolling is the laborious half. That is usually not a straightforward stroll to start with. Now given the situations that my leg is in, it will get much more tough. Seventy-two holes is an extended street and it should be a tricky problem. And a problem that I am up for.”

Jack Nicklaus expressed his help for Woods’ return earlier within the week.

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the primary gap on the Masters on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Augusta.
(AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)

“Delighted to listen to Tiger goes to offer it a go on the Masters,” Nicklaus’ assertion learn. “Contemplating the place his life was 17 months in the past, that is an unimaginable feat. Solely reinforces the drive, ardour and work ethic Tiger has all the time possessed. And know that whereas he’s in a unique place in his life, Tiger wouldn’t tee it up if he didn’t assume he might compete and win.”

He went on: “Tiger is aware of this golf course just like the again of his hand and, in 2019, as soon as in place, he remembered the right way to win. If his physique holds up, might he do it once more?”

Woods final competed in an occasion in 2021 on the PNC Championship along with his son, Charlie.