The five-time champion was the man the large crowds at Augusta had come to see and were not disappointed. Woods, 46, suffered life-threatening injuries in a car crash over 14 months ago, then feared that his leg might have to be amputated.
The 15-time major champion confirmed earlier in the week he planned to play and, despite some discomfort, looked sharp around the course.
After the opening day, it is South Korea’s Im Sung-jae a runner up in 2020 who is on top of the leader board by one shot on five under par after shooting a round of 67.
The opening day was delayed by half an hour because of overnight thunderstorms. Testing windy conditions in the morning made scoring difficult for the early starters. The players who were due to tee off in the afternoon certainly had the better of the conditions.
One of the later starters, Im began with three birdies to hit 32 on the front nine holes. However, successive bogeys on 10 and 11 pegged him back before a wonderful eagle put on 13 and birdie on 15 put him one shot clear of Australian Cameron Smith.
Smith, who won the recent Players Championship at Sawgrass was the early clubhouse leader after carding a four-under-par total of 68.
Up in the shakeup early on is England’s Danny Willett. A shock win at the Masters back in 2016, he finds himself only one shot of the lead.
American World number one Scottie Scheffler and 2020 champion Dustin Johnson are one shot behind Smith.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is still looking to complete a clean sweep of all four majors. The 32-year-old started with a one over par score of 73.
McIlroy’s English playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick sunk a 20-foot put on the last to card a round of 71, with a round that included just one bogey.
Both Lee Westwood and Tyrell Hatton carded level par 72’s with the English pair of Tommy Fleetwood three over and Justin Rose four over.
Scotland’s 1988 champion Sandy Lyle had a day to forget after shooting an 82. England’s Paul Casey had to pull out of the tournament shortly before he was due to tee off after a back injury.
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