Tiger begins chase for fifth green jacket at the Masters
Competing for the first time since early February, Tiger Woods shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday in the first round of the 79th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
The four-time winner carded four bogeys and three birdies.
“I felt good,” Woods said afterward. “I hit the ball well enough to shoot 3-under par.”
In two previous events this year, Tiger struggled with his chipping. However, that was his strong suit Thursday, as Woods made several up-and-down saves and looked mostly solid with his short game.
“It’s my strength again,” he said. “That’s why I busted my butt. That’s why I hit thousands and thousands of shots — to make sure it’s back to being my strength.”
Paired in the second-to-last threesome of the day with Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Jimmy Walker, Tiger three-putted the par-4 first hole for his first bogey of the day, but bounced right back with a birdie at the par-5 second. He dropped a shot at the downhill par-3 fourth, but regained it with a nice birdie at the uphill par-5 eighth. Woods’ second shot finished next to the grandstand on the left, but the 14-time major champion saved it with nice up-and-down.
At the par-4 ninth, Woods hooked his tee shot into the first fairway, blocked his second shot into the trees on the right and was lucky to escape with a bogey, making the turn in 1-over 37.
Following pars at the 10th and 11th holes, Tiger’s tee shot at the famous par-3 12th came up short on the bank and rolled back into the water. But showing off his improved short game, he hit a beautiful chip to close range of the cup and salvaged bogey.
At the par-4 13th, Woods missed the green left with his second shot, then hit a touchy left-to-right chip about eight feet past the hole and made the birdie putt. Tiger made another nice up-and-down at the par-5 15th, where he drove into the trees on the right, punched short of the green, spun his third shot off the front of the green, flirting with a fronting pond, chipped eight feet past the cup and sunk the putt.
Woods parred the last three holes.
On the day, Tiger hit 10 of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation.
“I’m glad he’s back,” said Walker.
Youngster Jordan Spieth grabbed the first-round lead with a 64.
“You know, I’m still in it,” Woods, who is tied for 41st, said. “I’m only nine back. We have a long way to go.”
Following play Friday, the field will be cut to the low 50 and ties, plus any player within 10 shots of the lead.
Tiger tees off at 10:30 a.m. ET with Donaldson and Walker.
