Tiger Woods took the field as a compliment to the crowd

Tiger Woods his long -awaited return to competition began with a par with his first hole in the Masters this Thursday before a crowd of spectators excited to see the five -time champion in Augusta. Woods, who wore a pink shirt and black pants on his return to the Masters after a car accident in February 2021, was greeted at the first hole with an impressive roar from spectators who came to Augusta National first thing in the morning to get a seat in the front row.

In his first competitive round of golf in 508 days, Woods teed off his drive just near the bunker to the right of the fairway, his second bounced on the green but the ball bounced off the green, then played of the chip about 10 feet and holes the par putt.

Woods ’accident, in which doctors nearly amputated his right foot, has raised serious doubts about his future as a professional golfer, but the 15-time major champion said earlier this week that he feels has the ability to continue to compete at the highest level.

If the 46-year-old Woods takes away this week’s unexpected victory, he will be the oldest Masters champion, three weeks before the Jack Nicklauswinner of 18 ‘majors’, earning his sixth Green Jacket in 1986. The oldest Grand Slam winner was Phil Michaelsonwho at the age of 50 won the PGA in 2021. ‘Lefty’ is gone this week, as well as another former champion, the Argentine Angel Cabrera, serving a sentence in his country for domestic violence. The Englishman also withdrew before the tournament began. Paul Caseydue to back problems.

Rory McIlroywho needs victory this week to complete the Grand Slam of his career, will begin the final group of the day at 8:33 pm Spanish peninsular time, while the former champion jordan spieth Y Dustin Johnson and the reigning US Open champion, Jon Rahmalso appear in the latter groups.

The start of the first ‘major’ of the year was delayed by 30 minutes due to lightning-thunderstorms at dawn.