Tiger Woods: Plays Augusta National
The 2015 Masters Tournament goes from April 9–12 in Augusta, GA., and Woods tested his game, playing with two unnamed Augusta members. His agent, Mark Steinberg, confirmed in an email that his client indeed played the course but he added that Woods had yet to make a decision on the Masters.
There was no word on how Woods did at Augusta Tuesday but he’s been playing rounds at the Medalist Golf Club not far from his home in Jupiter, Florida, and reports are his game has rounded into fine form. In fact the Golf Channel’s Tim Rosaforte has either been learning how to hype a sports event from Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, or Tiger is really making strides with his game.
Rosaforte reported on Tiger’s play as if it were the latter:
“The best example of the progress Tiger made over the last two-to-three weeks is the worst-ball 66 he shot at Medalist Golf Club,” Rosaforte said on the Golf Channel. “That’s where he takes the worst of two drives, the worst of the two approach shots, the putt that’s either furthest away from the hole or the chip that’s furthest away from the hole. And then if he makes birdie he has to validate.
“So if he makes a 10-footer for birdie he has to make another 10-footer for birdie. To go around that golf course, shoot six under in those conditions where you can’t hide, obviously, you can’t hide a weakness, and you think about the course record he shot there – 62 in 2011 – this round could conceivably be considered better.”
Woods takes leave from golf
Woods missed the cut in the Phoenix Open in January and then a week later at the Farmers Insurance Open his short game — his game overall — continued on so poorly that he withdrew after 11 holes and has not been back to the Tour since.
He was having back problems but said it was not related to the back surgery that forced him out of most of the 2014 season. When he stepped back from the tour he said he would not return until his game improved.
“My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf,” Woods said back on Feb. 11. “Like I’ve said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back.”
The 39-year-old Woods dropped out of golf’s top 100 ranking this week for the first time since turning pro in 1996. Over that span he has 79 PGA Tour wins, second only to Sam Snead’s 82, and 14 majors, behind only Jack Nicklaus’ 18. He’s won the Masters four times, the last time in 2005.
His last victory in a major was at the 2008 U.S. Open.
