Tiger Woods shocked golf followers when he introduced final week that he might compete on the Augusta Nationwide, the primary males’s main of 2022, simply 14 months after struggling life-threatening accidents as a result of a automotive crash. It might develop into true as spectators witnessed the legendary golfer follow on Monday. The prospect of an astonishing comeback by the 46-year-old US star, who says it is going to be a “game-time choice” if he tees off Thursday, constructed an electrical environment on the famed course, which welcomed a full crowd for the primary time since Woods’ 2019 win as a result of Covid-19 limits.
Right here is the video of Tiger Woods training on the Augusta Nationwide Golf Course:
“Tiger simply walked out of the clubhouse to scenes and environment such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than,” three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo of England tweeted.
“Patrons cheering and flocking to cram across the placing inexperienced. And it is solely Monday on the Masters.”
Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, was training his huge tee photographs when the roar erupted.
“From the driving vary, we might hear the loud roar when he got here out of the clubhouse as much as that first tee,” he mentioned.
“That was fairly particular to see, or hear at the least.”
With followers cheering in help, Woods performed 9 holes with 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and 1992 Masters winner Fred {Couples}, who mentioned Woods seemed “phenomenal” and “very spectacular” within the session.
“To go what he has gone by, to be enjoying as we speak — I am positive he’ll tee it up Thursday,” {Couples} mentioned.
“Now it is simply the strolling half. If he can stroll round right here for 72 holes, he’ll contend.”
Woods was hospitalized for weeks and unable to stroll for months after the February 2021 vehicle accident, saying he was fortunate to be alive and never have his leg amputated.
So it is no surprise gamers and followers alike have been thrilled by the prospect the 15-time main winner would possibly make chase one other main triumph.
“It is thrilling there’s the likelihood he’ll play this week,” mentioned 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia.
“I actually hope he does. It doesn’t matter what, it will simply be epic.”
Scott warned that if he performs, Woods is a real menace to win a sixth Masters inexperienced jacket — matching the all-time file of Jack Nicklaus — and sixteenth profession main title, two shy of Nicklaus’s all-time mark.
“I’ve realized way back by no means doubt the man,” Scott mentioned.
“If he can get round, which appears to be the query, you’ll be able to’t doubt his golf.”
Woods required main rehabilitation simply to play in an occasion together with his son final December, when he might use a cart and did not should stroll all the course.
Nevertheless, after giving no timetable for a return, Woods performed an 18-hole follow spherical final Tuesday at Augusta Nationwide, testing his health to stroll the hilly course.
“Not shocked, amazed”
“I am not shocked. I am amazed,” mentioned Thirty seventh-ranked Max Homa.
“I would be shocked if it was anybody else that has ever lived. It is a true testomony to his work ethic. It is exceptional actually.”
1 / 4-century after Woods received his first main title by an astonishing 12 strokes at Augusta Nationwide to launch “Tigermania,” he’s once more thrilling the Georgia crowd after spectators have been banned in 2020 for his title protection — the latest official occasion Woods has performed.
Spectators lined the primary gap three and 4 deep to look at Woods, displaying how a lot it means to them to have Woods even try such an unbelievable return.
“If I am in his footwear, I do not do the whole lot I’ve completed for the previous couple of months and present up right here and never play,” world quantity 13 Billy Horschel mentioned.
“The one factor stopping him, I believe, can be if he will get some sort of damage.
“I am guessing he’ll play and I will be simply as excited as everybody else to see him tee it up out right here on Thursday.”
With storms forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, Monday might mark the final alternative for Woods and different gamers to check themselves over the file 7,510-yard, par-72 structure.
Woods, who fell to 973 in Monday’s world rankings, has already made a unprecedented comeback on the Masters, profitable in 2019 for his first main triumph since 2008 after spinal fusion surgical procedure.
Ought to Woods play and handle a fairytale triumph on Sunday, he would change into the oldest Masters winner and third-oldest main champion in golf historical past, trailing solely final 12 months’s PGA Championship victory at age 50 by Phil Mickelson and Julius Boros, who received the 1968 PGA at age 48.
At 46 years, three months and 11 days, Woods can be a day older than Outdated Tom Morris when he received the 1867 British Open and three weeks older than Nicklaus when he received the 1986 Masters.
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