Tiger Woods got off to a solid start Thursday, the first day of the Masters Tournament, a significant moment for the pro golfer who suffered devastating leg injuries last February in a single-car crash.
Donning a pink Nike shirt, Woods was paired for the day with Louis Oosthuizen and Joaquin Niemann at Augusta National Golf Club. Surrounded by a massive audience, Woods teed off from the first hole around 8 a.m. Woods parred the first hole, “Tea Olive,” a 445-yard par 4.
From there, he parred the second hole, “Pink Dogwood,” a 575-yard par 5, barely missing a birdie opportunity. He then parred the third hole, “Flowering Peach,” a 350-yard par 4. On the fourth hole, “Flowering Crab Apple,” a 240-yard par 3, Woods once again parred.
Related Stories
Through nine holes, Woods was even on the day. He got a birdie on hole 6, but then a bogey on hole 8 before he parred hole 9. Through nine holes, Niemann was atop the leaderboard at 3 under par for the day.
Commentators noted that Woods’ form looked good, and he appeared to be comfortable, with a “sensible start.” However, it was clear he was having a bit of trouble when kneeling down on the greens to read a hole.
Woods finished the first day one under par to massive applause on the 18th hole. A smiling Woods told cheering fans “thank you” as he made his way off the course.
Technically, The Masters is not Woods’ return to golf after the crash, as he and son Charlie played in the PNC Championship in December. They finished second.
News that Woods intended to play in The Masters — a major that he’s won five times in his career, including in 2019 — shocked the sports world, as for a time it was unclear if the pro golfer would ever play the game again following a severe rollover car crash on Feb. 23, 2021, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where Woods sustained multiple leg injuries that required surgery.
1:30 p.m.: Updated that Woods finished that day one under par.
