Much is different about the Masters this week, beginning with the November date and the lack of galleries hollering their exclamations after ever sweet swing.
But for Tiger Woods, who earned his fifth green jacket with a win at Augusta National last year, the differences haven’t creeped into his game. Woods opened his tournament with a 4-under par 68, shooting bogey-free golf to begin his title defense.
It was Woods’ best opening round at the Masters in his career, and the first time he went bogey-free at the tournament to begin his weekend. Thursday’s showcase was also his first bogey-free round in a major in his last 106 attempts.
Woods teed off at the 10th hole after first-round play was suspended Thursday morning for about three hours due to a storm. The 44-year-old quickly made his way up the leaderboard, birdieing the 13th, 15th and 16th holes.
On 16, Woods played the slope, sending an iron shot long before it trickled down the green to rest just two feet from the pin. He tapped home, putting himself at 3-under.
Using the slopes. Tiger Woods birdies No. 16 to reach -3 at #themasters pic.twitter.com/TZlWyHTWg8
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 12, 2020
And then on 1, Woods birdied again, landing his approach shot 20 feet from the pin. He sank the ensuing birdie putt, allowing a restrained fist pump to escape. From there, Woods remained at 4-under, trailing leader Paul Casey by three strokes.
It was a promising start for Woods at Augusta. He’ll attempt to follow it up Friday, teeing off at noon.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.