Augusta, Georgia: Again enjoying the Masters after a career-threatening automotive crash, Tiger Woods mentioned he thought he might win a sixth Inexperienced Jacket and on Thursday (Friday AEST) he made just a few extra believers after carding a strong opening 71.
In his first aggressive spherical of golf in 508 days, Woods blended three birdies with two bogeys at Augusta Nationwide to sit down three behind clubhouse chief Australian Cameron Smith, who began and completed with double bogeys to finish his spherical at four-under.
Good for a lot of his opener, Smith settled for 68 after his drive on the par-4 ending gap headed towards timber on the correct aspect and began fairly a ending journey. He wound up three-putting for double, falling right into a tie at that time with Sungjae Im for the Masters lead.
From holes two by way of 17, it was nothing however birdies and pars for Smith — eight of every in that stretch. He made 4 birdies in 5 holes from 12 by way of 16, at one level opening up a three-shot lead.
Though the yr’s first main featured all of golf’s finest, there was just one man most had come to see: Woods, the world’s 973rd-ranked participant.
It was a outstanding effort from the 15-time main champion simply 14 months after medical doctors had thought of the opportunity of having to amputate his proper leg mangled within the single automotive accident.
“I fought again and for the day to finish up within the pink I’m proper the place i should be,” Woods mentioned. “I figured as soon as the adrenalin kicks in and I bought fired up and I bought into my little world I ought to have the ability to deal with enterprise.”
Woods mentioned he was ready to play with ache and at occasions noticeably limped as he made his means across the undulating structure considered one of many hardest walks on the PGA Tour.