Masters preview: Tiger Woods has ‘the look’ in his eye again
Four-time winner Tiger Woods is all business ahead of his 22nd Masters appearance. And one close mate has opened up about the moment he realised the fallen hero was back to his best.
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Good mate Justin Thomas detected it in their back-nine practice round on Monday: Tiger Woods has that look in his eye again.
Usually willing to pass on some Augusta wisdom, Woods, 43, is all business ahead of his 22nd US Masters appearance.
He drilled a wedge on 12, had eagle putts at 13 and 15, and shot 65 with a three-putt on the 1st in another reconnaissance round last week.
“We all know he’s back — there’s no doubt about that,” big-hitting rival Brooks Koepka said of Woods.
“I wouldn’t be surprised this week if he’s knocking on the door.”
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Woods is already a golfing legend, but a win in his trademark red on Sunday would surely herald sport’s greatest comeback.
“I don’t really need to win again — but I really want to,” Tiger said with a smile when asked how much he craved a fifth green jacket.
No longer the swashbuckler that won 14 majors in a decade, Tiger admitted his ailing body required constant attention.
“The hardest part is, I just can’t practice like I used to,” Woods said.
“My back gets sore. I can’t work on every single part of my game every day, I have to pick different parts to work on and that’s the challenge I now face.”
But the four-time Masters champion said he was fully fit and had “ a pretty good little library in my head of how to play the golf course”.
“I feel like I can win,” he said.
“I’ve proven that I can do it (at the Tour Championship last year) and I put myself there with a chance to win the last two major championships last year.
“I was right there and just needed to have a couple more things go my way and not throw away a couple of shots here and there.
“I’ve worked my way back into one of the players that can win events.”
Woods knows there are special roars reserved only for him in the packed galleries of Augusta.
“I’ve been here for 22 years and you see the same people on 16, same people on 18, same people on No.1 tee. It’s fantastic to see.
“The golf course is special. The tournament does an incredible job of creating atmosphere, but it’s also the patrons and how you can tell the birdie roars and eagle roars.
“I played in front of Jack (Nicklaus) when he made that run in ‘98 and it was electric, and that’s what this place does.
“Some of my best shots I’ve ever pulled off have been here.”
Woods will play on Thursday and Friday with Spaniard Jon Rahm and China’s Haotong Li.
MASTER SHOTS
Wet and wild weather has softened up the famed Augusta National golf course, opening the door to a host of contenders. Mick Warner selects his top five US Masters chances … and a smoky.
1. Rory McIlroy — chasing a career grand-slam, McIlroy has been the form player of the season. A wet track plays into his hands, but can he bury his final-round Augusta demons?
2. Brooks Koepka — Phil Mickelson knocked him back for an autograph in the Augusta carpark back in 1998, but the ice-cool monster-hitter could draw within one of Phil’s five major championships by Sunday.
3. Tiger Woods — It’s been 11 years since he saluted in a major, but the stage is set for the sport’s greatest comeback. Shot a 65 with a three-putt on 1 here last week.
4. Rickie Fowler — Best player in the world without a major, runner-up last year and a genius with the flat-stick.
5. Tommy Fleetwood — Yet to breakthrough on US soil, but a pure ball striker who shot a third-round 66 last year.
Smokey — Hideki Matsuyama — Four top 20 finishes at Augusta in the last four years.
Key Thursday-Friday pairings:
Group 10: Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Kyle Stanley
Group 12: Charley Hoffman, Louis Osthuizen, Marc Leishman
Group 14: Tiger Woods, Haotong Li, Jon Rahm
Group 15: Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith
Group 27: Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day
Group 28: Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas
Group 29: Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka
Augusta forecast:
Thursday: Partly cloudy, light winds. Top of 27c
Friday: Partly sunny, 40 per cent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Top of 28c
Saturday: Partly cloudy, 30 per cent chance of showers. Top of 28c
Sunday: Partly cloudy, 60 per cent chance of late showers and thunderstorms. Top of 29c
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