Augusta Masters: Tiger Woods’ return outshines the stars heading into the first Major of the season

The exclusive Augusta National Club opens its doors to the world once again to celebrate the 88th edition of Masters, the first of four Majors of the season. The tournament, which will begin this Thursday at 9am in Argentina, will bring together the best golfers on the planet, who will compete for four days for the coveted green jacket. However, all eyes will be on a player who is not on the list of favourites, far from his best, without competitive rhythm and immersed in a battle with his abused body that seems to have no end. Yet he does not exclude the possibility and hope of once again writing history in the mythical field of azaleas and magnolias.

It is, of course, about Tiger Woods, who at 48 years of age will participate in the competition for the 26th time and promises to steal the fans’ attention from the great candidates in a weekend in which he will aim for two historic brands. If he survives the first two days, she will cross the finish line for the 24th time in a row and set a new record in the competition, bettering the 23 he shares today with Gary Player. And if he wins the title on Sunday, he will reach his sixth consecration in Augusta, equaling the line of the greatest winner, Jack Nicklaus.

Is it realistic to think that Tiger, who has played just two tournaments in the last year and has acknowledged his limitations, could end up lifting the trophy? Maybe not completely, but he has faith.

“If all goes well, I think I can have another one”, he said without hesitation when asked what his chances were of catching Nicklaus and also stealing the honor of being the oldest Masters champion. And when the whole room fell silent, perhaps surprised by her confidence, she smiled widely and replied: “Do I need to say more or is everything fine?”.

And about facing the possibility of his 24th consecutive cut, he said: “I think it speaks to consistency, longevity and understanding how to play this field. The latter is one of the reasons why we see players in them 50 or 60 get here or some in their 40s with a chance to win. T-shirts They have been changed since the first time I played. THE greens Also. But the general setup, how the ball rolls, how it moves and the angles you have to take, are still there.”

sounds, the winner of 15 Majors, surprising the world as he did five years ago, when he celebrated for the fifth time on the Georgia pitch and won his first trophy there in 14 years. And the first “big” after almost eleven seasons. That 2019 coronation – which sealed his rebirth, after years complicated by extra-sporting scandals and difficulties with serious injuries (the most important to his back) – is still very present in his memory.

“This tournament means a lot to me and my family. I’ve been playing here for 29 years, it’s part of my life. I hugged my father the first time I won (in 1997) and in 2019 I hugged my son. I have closed the circle“reflects those who for the first time in 29 years will not play the competition with the logo of Nike on his clothes, after breaking off his long collaboration with the “pipa” brand in January.

Dream, Tiger, of returning to the top of golf. But above all, being able to compete without having to worry if the pain and fatigue of walking for four days in Augusta will lead you to throw in the towel before the last hole. He himself admitted that physical fitness will be his biggest challenge.

“There are days when I feel very good and others when I don’t. On a physical level, every shot off the court tee It will be a challenge,” he admitted.

Since withdrawing from last year’s Masters due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot after playing seven holes in the final round, Woods spent more time working with his physical therapist than practicing his swing. He underwent surgery on his right ankle shortly thereafter and fully rehabilitated it, but continues to struggle with the aftermath of the car accident he suffered in February 2021, which caused serious injuries to both legs.

“It’s not what it used to be”, he assured. “Before, I practically lived at the shooting range and in… green of practices. I spent the day there. I can’t do it anymore. “Now I try to make the most of every opportunity to train.”

In the last twelve months he has only played two tournaments. In December last year he completed the World Heroes Challenge, an unofficial competition he hosts in the Bahamas to benefit his foundation. After that appearance, he said his plan for 2024 was to play one tournament a month, but he failed to make it happen. His only participation this year was the Genesis Invitationalin February in Los Angeles, from which he withdrew in the second round with flu-like symptoms.

“I wasn’t ready to play,” he responded when asked about his absence from some dates last month. “My body wasn’t ready. My game wasn’t ready. Hopefully now that we have major championships every month, I can stick to the schedule I had planned.”

Dream, Tiger, of doing a good job, of crossing the finish line and, why not, of making history again in a competition that marked a before and after in your career. He dreams despite the uncertainty of not knowing how his game and his body will respond to a demanding tournament like the one in Augusta. And beyond the problems, passion moves him.

“I love golf, I always have. I love competing, it’s one of the reasons I’ve had a successful career. I love when everything works and you have a chance to win, whether you succeed or not,” he reflected . .

Several candidates and an Argentinian

Even if he can’t count Tiger Woods among his favorites, the Augusta Masters has a luxury list of candidates, led by the Spaniard Jon Rahmwho in his first foray into the tournament as a LIV Golf player will try to defend the title won last year.

And the world number three is very clear about the extent of the challenge that awaits him to retain the iconic green jersey, because he will have to face rivals who reach an excellent level, from the American Scottie Scheffler current world ranking leader, and Northern Irish Rory McIlroy Until Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Japanese Ideki Matsuyama.

“It’s not a tournament like any other. Augusta National is comparable to Santiago Bernabeu or with Wimbledon. “It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve played, every time you step foot here you feel butterflies in your stomach,” said the Spaniard.

Rahm made history last year by becoming the fourth Spaniard to win this tournament Severiano Ballesteros, José María Olazábal AND Sergio Garcia. Since then the global golf scene has changed radically. The conflict between LIV Golffinanced by the public fund of Saudi Arabia, and the PGA It was the boiling point at the time. Today there is peace between the two circuits after the signing of an agreement to unify golf.

The Spaniard was one of the great stars who changed direction and accepted the juicy contract of the Arab League, which has a less tight calendar. Thus, the one born in Barrika 29 years ago arrives physically fresher, with fewer tournaments played in the season than some of his rivals. Even if he doesn’t see it as an advantage.

“Physically I feel better than last year. But once the competition starts, it doesn’t really matter. You have to go out there and measure yourself.“he assured.

McIlroy will be one of his biggest rivals. If it weren’t for the present, for the special motivation that the Northern Irishman has: finally winning the only Major that he hasn’t yet managed to conquer. And he has a lot of confidence to face the challenge.

“I know I have the potential to make it. I’ve been a good player for the last twenty years and it’s nice to know that Tiger also thinks I can make it,” said the two-time winner of the PGA Championships and once the US Open and the British Open.

“I have all the weapons to do well, but eliminating them is the most important thing. I don’t have to try to win from the start tee. It’s 72 holes, there are many different ways to win the tournament. “I’m confident, but sometimes you have to take a more conservative path, have patience,” she added.

The Masters will once again have an Argentine standard-bearer, Emiliano Grillowho will return to the tournament after a five-year absence and having secured qualification by winning the Charles Schwab Challenge of the PGA 2023.

The 31-year-old from Chaco – who comes in with two top 10s in the 2024 tournaments – had his best performance in his debut in 2016, when he placed 17th. The following year he finished in 51st place and in 2019 he achieved 62nd place.

“It’s always fun to come back here. It’s a special place. A field that demands a lot, you have to give your best, because this field asks of you in all areas”, Grillo anticipated.