Tiger Woods completes first lap in pain

From our special correspondent in Augusta (Georgia, USA),

This Thursday in Augusta, Tiger Woods completed the first round of the 87th edition of the Masters in 74. A score very far from those which made up his daily life in his heyday, closer to 65 than 75, even if his average score over the 24 editions he a disputed amounts to 71.05. The five-time winner of the Masters tournament seems to have already had to draw on his reserves to finish two strokes over par…

Encouraged by a large crowd who came to support him around the No. 1 tee, Tiger Woods took the start at 10.18am sharp, followed by Norwegian Viktor Hovland and American Xander Schauffele. After a face-off in the middle of the fairway, he finished the opening hole with two putts and a first par on his card. The game was on, it was going to be rich in lessons…

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Feverish short game

On hole n°3, Tiger Woods recorded his first bogey. Excellent with the driver in hand, we felt his short game more feverish around the greens. On holes 5 and 7, the Tiger still lost its luster with two new bogeys, sadly conceded. The first on an attack of green too short, the second after a horseshoe on the 2^e putt. The par 5 of hole n°8 somewhat reassured the many fans who followed it: the approach failed to return for eagle, offering an easy birdie.

At the start of the return, the former world No. 1 was already showing some signs of fatigue. The limp of his right leg was more present in the long descent of hole 10, at the start of the Amen Corner. On the par 4 of the 11, Tiger made two errors which caused immense sighs of disappointment in the crowd. First on an approach returned by the edge of the right bunker then on an ill-fitting chip that fell into the sand. Fourth bogey of the day.

Resources

The Tiger, however, was going to look deep inside him for new resources to post four pars and especially two new birdies, from holes 13 to 17. His iron shot above the water feature of par 3 (on 16 ) was a marvel of precision. Spectators jumped from their seats to salute this magnificent dart from the living legend of golf.

Unfortunately, the Augusta National Golf Club was not done with one of its bravest heroes. On hole n°18, Tiger Woods was going to experience a way of the cross, passing from one bunker to another. The first exit from the sand at the edge of the ferry, forced him to take an unstable support on his right leg. Tiger Woods was trying hard to hide his pain afterward, but, grimacing, he was forced to lift his right foot to save it from hitting the ground, as if he couldn’t take it anymore.

« If I can, I hope it will be positive, even though my leg still hurts. The pain is constant… »

Tiger Woods

On arrival, a fifth bogey weighed down a card presenting three birdies facing five bogeys. More serious than the figure of 74, it is the tested face – marked by an obvious fatigue – that the observers retained. Even if the score can allow Tiger Woods to pass the cut at the end of the second day, some were already seriously questioning the physical aptitudes of the current 1001^e world player if he were to continue the tournament in the rain this weekend.

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Two days ago, his caddy Joe LaCava spoke of his boss’ pain and physical limitations in an article in the New York Post. Tiger Woods had made no secret of it, either, in front of the international press. This Thursday, they appeared very real in the eyes of the public. ” It was a good time today to play under par but I couldn’t make itconcluded Tiger Woods briefly, in front of the cameras. Yet most of the other guys did. I hope it will be tomorrow (Friday) for me, thanks to a more precise game. The end of this tournament is going to be interesting with the uncertain weather ahead. If I can, I hope it will be positive, even though my leg still hurts. The pain is constant… »