Tiger Woods returned to Augusta National Golf Club for the first major championship since his successful comeback in 2019. However, the legendary golfer failed to find his groove and is currently at 3-over par after the first round of the 2023 Masters Golf Tournament.
Early Struggles and Uneven Performance
Woods struggled with his short game, which has been an issue for him in the past, and his putting was not good during the early holes of the day. He played alongside Viktor Hovland who was leading the tournament, making it difficult for him to keep up. Woods started his opening round with a par at the first hole but had a dropped shot on the short par-4 third.
Recovering Through the Back Nine
Woods managed to save his bogey on the 11th hole but was finding it difficult to make birdies. He got his first birdie of the day after nearly making an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole. Woods finished the front nine with a 2-over 38, mostly because of his putting issues.
Birdies Brings a Mixed Result
On the back nine, Woods showed flashes of brilliance as he made a birdie on both the 15th and 16th holes. Woods caught an unfortunate lie in the fairway on 18, leading to one last bogey and finishing with a 2-over 74.
Ranking at The Masters Leaderboard
Woods finished his first round at 2-over par, while Hovland took the lead at 7-under par. Several notable golfers, including Brooks Koepka and Fred Couples, are four shots off the lead.
LIV Golfers Participation
Eighteen players from the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf league are participating in the tournament, and 17 LIV golfers remain in the field. Seven amateur golfers are also participating in the tournament. Last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler and three-time champ Phil Mickelson are also playing.
Woods’ Performance at The Masters
Woods’ current four-round over-par streak dates back to 2022, and he needs five more to tie the longest streak ever held by Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples (23). Woods acknowledged that the 2023 tournament could be his last at Augusta National Golf Club.
Weather Forecast and TV Coverage
The Masters weather forecast predicts chances of thunderstorms, rain showers, and cool temperatures. Fans can catch TV coverage for the tournament on ESPN, CBS, the ESPN app, Masters.com, and fuboTV.
Overall, Woods had an uneven first round at the Masters, with four pars, three bogeys, and two birdies. While he may have some ground to make up in subsequent rounds of play, there is still a chance for him to make a comeback before the end of the tournament.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
