Tiger’s Masters: no fairytale ending, but still inspiring Sports

August, Georgia – Patron Masters filled every nook and cranny around the 18th green, waiting for the man in red to appear.

It has not been a warm sunny day in eastern Georgia for 3 hours. On the next first hole, leader Scotty Scheffler and closest pursuer Cameron Smith have just reached the final group.

Crouching and visibly limping, Woods climbed a deceptively steep hill that led to a green field as fans slowly rose to their feet, roaring through the building as they saluted a wonderful return, if not a weekend fairy tale.

“Hold on there, tiger!” the man standing behind in the crowd strapped on.

In terms of strictly playing golf, it was hardly the Woods that so many remembered. The guy who won five green jackets, the last of them just three years ago. A guy who will become one of the greatest who has ever played a game, even if he never makes another hit. (Don’t worry, he’s not done yet.)

This Woods, the one squirming on a recovered right leg he could have lost in that horrific car crash 14 months ago, ended up 78th, which was the worst performance in his Masters career.

He even had to swing his left hand on the 13th after he knocked the ball out on the pine straw behind the green, right next to the azalea.

After his broken body just ended electric 71 on Thursday, when Woods returned to golf for the first time in more than 500 days.

On Friday, he scored 74 points, ensuring that for the 22nd time in a row he will make a summary of the Masters.

There was nothing left in the tank for the weekend.

However, it was a pleasant experience that Woods clearly did not regret, even if he did not come close to victory record sixth green jacket.

“This tournament meant so much to me and my family,” Woods said. “All the great champions played here. They walked through these territories. “

The fact that Woods was able to take the course again – in four days, at least – was in itself a feat.

After his crash in February 2021, doctors told Voodoo that his broken right leg may need to be amputated. He was rescued, but was confined to a hospital bed for three months. It still has screws and rods that hold the bones in place.

Woods walked Augusta National with a limp that became more and more noticeable, sometimes using a club as a cane to help him move.

Remarkably, he couldn’t bend over to read Augusta’s cunning greens, which may explain why his stellar touch to the short stick seemed to throw him off the weekend.

But excluding all the tournaments he won, especially the 15 major championships, it was his greatest achievement in golf.

“For not winning the event, yes. “Yes, no doubt,” said Woods. “I don’t think people really understand. People close to me understand. They saw it. Some of the players close to me saw this and saw some pictures and what I had to go through. They probably appreciate it more than anyone else because they know what it takes to do it here at this level. ”

Everyone understands how much Woods still means to the game, even though he is undoubtedly at the twilight of his 46-year career.

“You’re just so eager for him,” said Harold Warner III, who joined Woods and Cameron Champ to make it the first Masters with three black players. “Obviously, it’s great for sports. If he is around, we will earn a lot of money. “

Woods told Sky Sports he plans to play at the British Open in St. Andrews in July. He is unsure of the next two major competitions: the PGA Championship, which will be held May 19-22 in Southern Hills, or the US Open in Brooklyn in June.

“It’s just going to be big events,” Woods Sky said. “But I’m looking forward to St. Andrews. This is something that is close and dear to my heart. I won two Open Championships there, it’s the birthplace of golf. It’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I’ll be there for it. “

“See you on the road,” shouted his caddy Joe LaCova to the media, who gathered near the club building, waiting to talk to his boss.

Wherever it is, Woods plans to step up his rehab so that his body has a better chance of enduring for four grueling days.

“We are excited about the prospects of the future, about training, about what we need in the gym and doing something else to strengthen my leg, which we could not do because it took longer to heal,” he said. . “I think it takes a couple more days after that to heal, but we’ll be back after that.”

As Woods spoke, there was a roar that sounded as if from below in Amen Corner.

Woods loves these rumbles. He didn’t hear them after his 2019 victory. The following year, due to the pandemic, the tournament was held in November without fans. Last year, of course, holding a golf tournament was the most out of Woods ’mind.

“It’s exciting. It’s inspiring, ”he said. “It’s nice to hear the roar.”

Woods hopes to create a few more before finishing.

This Sunday, he had to settle for the applause that erupted for the last time after he struck a short shot on the 18th hole, getting 13 over 301 – his worst performance at the Masters as a professional on eight strokes.

Woods finished a colossal 23 throws behind Scheffler, who won his first major title. This corresponded to the biggest gap between the winner and Woods in any major championship that previously took place at the British Open in 2014, when he was surprised by Rory McIlroy.

He eclipsed his biggest blast at the Masters, which was 19 strokes from Dustin Johnson two years ago when Woods was the reigning champion.

When Woods took off his hat and headed for the clubhouse, the crowd around 18 began to disperse.

It’s time to look at the players who really had a chance to grab the green jacket.