Tiger Woods Endures Constant Pain during Turbulent First Round at The Masters

Tiger Woods, the 15-time major champion, had a turbulent opening round at The Masters on Thursday, admitting that he was in “constant” pain throughout the game. Despite his struggles, he carded a two-over 74, which placed him nine shots behind Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who finished the round tied for the lead at seven-under.

Uncertainty Surrounding Woods’ Appearance at The Masters

Woods’ appearance at The Masters had been uncertain as his competitive appearances have been infrequent since he suffered severe leg injuries in a serious car crash in 2021. The 47-year-old golfer made a dramatic comeback at the 2022 Masters and shocked many by making the cut, but his physical struggles to navigate a hilly Augusta terrain were evident, compounded by surgery that had put a rod and pins in his right leg.

Woods’ Physical Condition

During his opening round, Woods hopped on his left leg after an awkward escape shot from a bunker at the 18th hole. When asked about the condition of his leg after his round, Woods was candid, admitting that he was “sore.” However, he added that his “hop on the left leg is fine,” but “not so fine” on the other one.

Turbulent Start with Some Glaring Highlights

Woods’ start at The Masters was sluggish, with three bogeys across his first seven holes. However, the five-time Masters champion rallied with a birdie at the eighth, and the crowd almost erupted as he chipped a spectacular approach, only to be denied eagle by mere inches. A fourth bogey at the 11th dropped him back to three over, but Woods put together a final flourish with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th holes. Unfortunately, his closing bogey compounded a frustrating afternoon.

Looking Ahead

Despite missing the cut only once in his previous 24 appearances at Augusta, Woods’ poor start means that he will require a resurgent second round to achieve the feat. “Today was the opportune time to get the ball – get the round under par, and I didn’t do that today,” Woods said. He hopes to improve his game on the second day, and if he makes the cut, he would tie Fred Couples and Gary Player for most consecutive cuts at the major. Woods is scheduled to tee off for his second round on Friday at 1:24 p.m. ET (6:24 p.m. BST).

Conclusion

Tiger Woods’ first round at The Masters was marred by physical pain and a poor start, but he showed some glimpses of his brilliance during the round. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about his chances and hopes to improve his game on the second day. His fans will be hoping for a resurgence and a strong finish at one of his favorite tournaments.