On the 16th hole, the par 3 of the lake, of enormous symbolism for Tiger Woods, the one in which in the final round of 2005 he holed a shot from off the green that is written in gold letters in the Tigercipedia, the star finally gave signs of life. He was a raised fist after a good birdie putt, five meters, which placed him under par in the Masters. The robot had feelings. (See results)
Until that moment, five hours had passed without a doll, which is good – there are no symptoms that show the pain – and at the same time not so much because right now it looks like a Meccano. The 71 shots with which he dispatched his first round of competition since his accident in Los Angeles in February of last year deserved some more cheer than he gave himself. That Thursday was not easy at Augusta National, with some truculent flag and a wind that made blows uncomfortable. Taking into account that eight months ago he did not know if he could walk, and that when he goes down slopes he does not hide his limp, it seems too demanding. “There’s a long way to go, but it’s good to have a positive start,” he said without any euphoria.
SERIOUSNESS
Woods was serious and tense from the start. I went through a corridor of people when the clock had already struck eleven – there was a delay of half an hour due to the downpour – escorted by a couple of sheriffs with their eyes on a point on the horizon. He did not greet any of the acquaintances he came across. In that he has the usual competitive instinct.
“I didn’t like how I did the warm-up”, recognized. “But I said fine, we have to go out and let’s see what happens,” she explained when she finished. Probably all those doubts nested in his head. After spending so much time between weights, elastic bands, reinforcing the lower body, the back, with bibs that look like the protector of a MotoGP rider, after having prepared for the moment for months, the sensations were not as expected.
His game was more like the 21-year-old who fell in love with the world in 1997 than later versions more precise, less crazy. He was erratic off the tee, but made great recovery shots, especially with the short game, where at Augusta he is unmatched. He saved 7 of 9 holes with that weapon, a very high balance. Three birdies and two bogeys made up his card.
Perhaps the strangest thing, also a product of the fact that you cannot physically demand much, was his balance in the par 5, sections in which he accumulates 172 shots under par in his career in the Masters. The total sum was even with a birdie on the generous 13, the one that finishes off the Amen Corner, and a bogey, product of the worst two shots he hit all day.
He attended the press and submitted to the second part that has now invaded his life: a long recovery session. “It’s a lot of treatment, a lot of jumping in ice baths. Shivering and suffering! It’s horrible, but it allows me to recover!”, he revealed.
