Tiger Woods overshadows Masters with so many scenarios

Augusta
Five players can go to No. 1 in the world by winning the Masters. Another can complete the career Grand Slam with a green jacket. Such is the depth of talent these days in golf on the eve of the first major of the year.
And such is the power of five words at 10:34 a.m. Thursday that are sure to overshadow everything else on the opening day of the 86th Masters.
“Fore, please. Tiger Woods driving.” Those words from the first tee at Augusta National haven’t been uttered since Nov. 15, 2020, the last time Woods played — and walked — in a tournament.
For all its youth — the top seven players in the world are 30 or younger — golf still isn’t ready to let go of its past, especially when that past is Woods and there was every reason to wonder if he would ever compete at this level again.
Along with images of Woods slipping on any of his five green jackets are those of his crumpled SUV at the bottom of a hill in suburban Los Angeles from his harrowing crash 14 months ago that left him confined to a hospital bed for three months.
In December, when he rode a cart to compete in a 36-hole event with his son, and Matt Kuchar suggested his swing was PGA Tour-ready, Woods smiled and said, “No, no, no, no. I totally disagree. I’m not at that level. I can’t compete against these guys right now. No.” And then on Tuesday, he said he was going to play and added a short time later, “I don’t show up to an event unless I think I can win it.” “It’s just truly amazing. I don’t even know how else to say it,” Masters Chairman Fred Ridley said Wednesday. “I would have probably taken some pretty high odds a few months ago, even a few weeks ago, whether or not he would be here.
“But when you think about it, it really shouldn’t surprise us. He is one of the most determined, dedicated athletes that I have ever seen in my life.” Woods is back — again — and the 90 other players at Augusta National feel like nothing more than an afterthought until scores are posted.
“Tiger takes a lot of attention away from all of us, which I think is a good thing for us,” said Scottie Scheffler, making his debut as the No. 1 player in the world. “He’s used to being in the spotlight. Tiger is the needle for professional golf.” Tigermania has been in full force ever since the gates opened Monday morning, and the gallery filled every inch behind the ropes for the nine holes he played with Justin Thomas and Fred Couples. It was like that again Wednesday, when the trio played the back nine, beating the rain.
On the par-5 second hole, Louis Oosthuizen had a fairway metal in hand as he tried to reach the green. Only about 150 people lingered behind to watch. On the third fairway, the caddie for Joaquin Niemann was walking the course to check yardages when someone suggested he should enjoy such a quiet day. Gary Matthews turned and smile.