A new Tiger returns to golf, takes 4th place in Masters
Jonathon Smith
It has been a long vacation for Tiger Woods. Months removed from the game, he finally made his return to golf at the Masters. It was a fitting place to make his return.
Woods has always been one to remain out of the spotlight as much as possible. The environment at the Masters is certainly befitting of his style.
As much as the Phoenix Open is known for raucous atmospheres, the Master’s is known for just the opposite. As expected, the crowd was respectful and gracious.
The cheers Woods received may have been overshadowed by the roars for Phil Mickelson and his barrage of eagles, but they must have been comforting.
After months of intense scrutiny into Woods’ personal life, he finally gave the media something else to analyze.
While he came up short, Woods put on a show. His first round was his best ever at a Masters, and he had more eagles in the tournament than in any other year.
He showed the world why he is the best, but Woods’ mistakes have revealed that he is still human.
The look on his face as he walked off the 18th green was that of a tired man. He was exhausted from a grueling week of battle against Augusta National, the media and himself.
He got down on himself a number of times throughout the round after a couple of poor shots. The censors couldn’t keep up with his mouth on a couple of occasions.
He simply didn’t look comfortable, and this was apparent before the round even began.
Woods had an entourage of body guards that looked more befitting of a president than a golfer. Was Tiger really worried about his safety at Augusta? A team of 90 guards comprised of retired members of the CIA and FBI seems a bit excessive, to say the least.
It’s tough to get down on someone that shoots 11 under in a major, but Woods seemed a bit distracted at times. His errant shots may have been a result of the time he took off from the game, but it feels as though there was a bit more to it.
He seemed more interested in the public’s perception than his game at times. Woods was never one to wave to the crowd, or even acknowledge their existence other than to yell at a photographer or two.
At the Masters his personality seemed to take a one-eighty. He was very animated, signing autographs and smiling at spectators.
This is not the same man. Part of what made Woods so great was his insane focus and businesslike approach. It’s what gave him an edge over everyone else in the golf world.
He will probably never slip into mediocrity, but without his killer instinct and serious demeanor, the rest of the golf world may have taken a step closer to the pedestal Woods has climbed atop during the last decade.
