A standing ovation greeted Californian Tiger Woods ’return to the“ greens ”when he began his participation in the eighty -sixth edition of the Augusta Masters, a tournament he won for the first time 25 years ago and that was the mark of his return to the circuit 14 months after the serious car accident he suffered in February last year

The former number one in world golf was wearing black pants, matching his shoes and cap, and a pink t-shirt when he came out of the ring in Augusta National Golf Clubfrom Georgia, who saw him devoted himself five times throughout his prosperous career

There is no doubt that Woods is the public’s most anticipated in this edition where a few days ago he said he was ready to play and win, despite his 46 years and the long recovery he had to go through after surgeries on those legs. demanded by accident

The Augusta Masters started with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson as “honorary starters” and started half an hour late due to bad weather.

magic of the tiger

On his first day of action, the Tiger returned carrying everything. On hole 5 he hit a great approach and then would make the first birdie of the afternoon but his putter flirted into the hole and a few centimeters away. Far from intimidating, on hole 6 he again left it very close to the flag and this time he never failed.

After making par on the 7th, Tiger reached par 5 on the 8th where a few inaccuracies led him to make his first bogey of the afternoon. On the 9th, after a difficult start, the American seemed to recover with a great blast that seemed to put him on the green: however, the ball was blocked by the wind and did not reach its destination.“Fuck off,” he heard Tiger say., with frustration. However, his reaction was unusual and in two strokes he deposited the ball in the hole, closing the first leg of his first round in Augusta with par for the course.

The American closed the 10th par par and held it with great wisdom in the 11th, one of the hardest holes on the court, a dangerous par 4 of 520 yards and a headwind.

Tiger came out on par 3 12 with upside confidence and closed it out with three shots. And on the 13th, par 5, he showed the power of his arms to fasten another birdie without too much complication.

Complications came on the 14th (par 4 and 440 yards), where, on his worst trip that day, he launched the ball from the tee into an area of ​​trees. He seemed to have recovered with an impressive shot, leaving his ball very close to the green and only 9 meters from now. But a bit complicated by the wind, he added a new bogey. He then completed 15 with five strokes (par).

The Chilean Joachim NiemannSi, who plays in Woods ’group, shows high level (with an eagle at 9) and stays ahead. He also added three birdies and two bogeys, and a third with a combined score of -3.

Meanwhile, the Australian cameron smith He led at -6, the product of an impressive round in which he added -up to the 16th hole- eight birdies and a double bogey (on his first hole of the day).

With information from ANSA