Tiger WoodsFaced in such pain on Saturday night, it was hardly surprising that much of the social media talk focused on whether he should withdraw before the final round of the 86th Masters.
Naturally, it was all well-meaning, but has that ever been the way of the tiger? Of course he showed up for the final round. It was given as much as he would walk for the first tee dressed in red.
After a year of immobilized in a hospital bed, with his chances of walking again, he made the 18th hole on Sunday at Augusta National, with little chances of re-running, playing golf here.
Tiger Woods took 18th place at the Masters on Sunday, a year after his accident
It completed its week for the ages, recognized by patrons who extended the most warm welcome. His face bathed in a smile, Tiger expressed his admiration and then confirmed that it was the beginning of a comeback show.
‘Hey, come on, hug me,’ she said to her two kids, Charlie and Sam, away from the cameras. By this stage, he was really struggling to walk.
Whatever the pain, it was important that he reached the finish line. Woods needs to know that he can play 72 holes before and after a round to make all the rehab and ice baths worthwhile. If he can make it here, he can make it this year in the other three majors, with all courses staging far less punishable than this.
His performance was limited to a week for ages, and he was warmly received by patrons.
While that was the biggest bonus, there were plenty of others. After a shaky performance off the tee on the first day, he ran it well after that, and his ball speed of about 173 mph was remarkable, the best he has ever done. You won’t be playing your second shot with Rory McIlroy, but you can certainly compete with the tee if you can swing it at that pace.
We know that he will accomplish this with fetters. No one has ever hit an iron shot better than Tiger. His chipping was good even for a man who had not played competitively for more than 500 days.
Aside from the physicality of the test, the one area they really struggled with was on the greens, but doesn’t that make sense? His third round 78 sounds terrible, but he had 36 putts, including the second four-putt of his entire Masters career. Even if he had put 30 putts, he would have been one of the few to equal 72 in Saturday’s numbing cold.
If anyone had told Tiger before the first round that he would play the defending US Open champion and world number two golfer on Sunday, he certainly would have done so. As it turns out, it was much earlier than anyone would have wished, as Tiger lifted himself off the canvas after his worst score at Augusta, and Jon Rahm still had a chance to get out of mid gear. Looking for a way, he’s been there all year.
Woods got himself out high off the canvas after his worst score at Augusta
Rahm had spoken in the build-up about consulting Woods about playing at Augusta, which only had to be turned down. ‘I think the only golfer who can tap into that supply line is Justin Thomas,’ Rahm said with a smile. ‘I once asked how to stick the grain and he said you got your action to make it shallow. Okay. Then, half an hour later, I looked up and he was giving a dissertation to JT.’
Here Rahm had a ringside seat and Tiger had four hours to choose the mind that he can definitely use to his advantage in the upcoming Masters. No matter how many holes this couple kept talking happily. When they reached 17th place they were on such friendly teams, Tiger was shouting: ‘Hey, Rhambo? I will play.’
A huge army of protectors stayed with him till the end. He didn’t care what he was shooting up close, that he was running after Saturday’s 78. After all the “Come on Tiger” chants and the roar of “Come, Tiger,” a distinct refrain was recurring as he made his weary and weary way to the 18th fairway, and that unforgettable standing ovation. ‘Thanks, Tiger,’ he shouted. Thanks indeed.
The best thing? The ensuing giggle will lead to an exhilarating, emotional occasion at the 150th Open in St Andrews and their favorite course of all.
The gleeful confirmation of playing in the 150th Open in St Andrews was soon made
What about leaders, can they give a fitting repeat? Did he just What was certainly the best day after a week of mixed weather was suitably saved for last, and one of those classic Augusta Sundays was played out in the hot sun.
As the returning hero embraced his family, generations of golfers, a man inspired by Tiger, were putting on a show worthy of his example. McIlroy was there, going for everything and making exciting progress on the leaderboards. He played a forward nine in 32 shots and jumped in the tie for the third. McIlroy started with a birdie and then chipped in on 7th, before birding an even fifth eighth. He once again hit a four in the 10th.
The last group consisted of two men, who were still at a distance. How fit they must be to be comfortably the two best players in the game this year.
Between then, Scottie Scheffler and Cam Smith had won five of the eight events they had contested this season. Schaeffler started with a three-stroke lead but also remembered the poor drive on Saturday 18th where he stuck the ball into the trees. Sure enough, he followed it in a similar direction the first time around with another trepidation.
Rory McIlroy made exciting strides up the leaderboard and even jumped into the tie for third
It would be a pattern in the beginning but over and over again his incredible touch around the greens saved him. It saved a crucial cross on the opening hole, as Smith made the opening move with a birdie.
What happened after the third was barely believable. Another terrifying hook from Scheffler left him in a terrible place. He did well to find the green front on this driveable par four. He then hit a boundary to score the most birdies from a distance of 30 yards.
As if that wasn’t enough of a bonus, Smith drilled the hole and now the lead was three more times. Schaeffler extended it to four with another smart up and down in fourth after another poor tee shot, as the 28-year-old from Brisbane took another bogey.
The lead remained four with seven holes played, with McIlroy and Korean Im Sungjae seven behind. It all set up for an epic duel over the Fable Nine.