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The Masters is back, and so too is Tiger Woods. Now 25 years after his first victory at Augusta National, the 15-time major winner has made a stunning return to golf’s most iconic tournament, just over a year after a near-fatal car crash threatened to end his legendary career in the sport.
Woods’ latest comeback has dominated the build-up to the 86th Masters, with the 46-year-old only announcing on Tuesday that he was ready to play following months of extensive rehab. The five-time Masters winner said he would not be at Augusta if he did not think he could win the tournament, and a sixth green jacket would eclipse even his remarkable 2019 triumph as the greatest comeback in sports history.
The American gets underway following an afternoon of rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday, in what is set to be a wide-open field in the first major of the year. Hideki Matsuyama is the defending champion and Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Smith are notable contenders favoured with the bookies, while Rory McIlroy goes again on his quest to complete a career grand slam. Follow live updates from the opening day’s play of the Masters below:
The Masters: Migliozzi takes share of lead
Guido Migliozzi has made a fine start to his round with birdies at 2 and 3 to join Harrington out in front. The 25-year-old Italian is making his Masters debut but has plenty of credentials behind him, with two wins on the European Tour and a fourth-place finish on his maiden US Open start last year.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 15:00
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:52
The Masters: Harrington takes outright lead
Rory McIlroy quipped earlier this week that he didn’t realise Padraig Harrington was playing this week at Augusta before the pair played a practice round together. He won’t make that mistake now because the Ryder Cup captain is in the outright lead after back-to-back birdies at 3 and 4.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:43
The Masters: Spaun feels wrath of Augusta
JJ Spaun tasted glory on the PGA Tour for the first time last week when he won the Valero Texas Open. Augusta is a different kind of animal though and the American is feeling the brunt of it already. A nightmare on the green at the short par-4 3rd leads to a double-bogey before his woes are reinforced at the par-3 4th after finding the bunker off the tee. He’s currently bottom of the field.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:38
The Masters: Higgo birdies the first
Garrick Higgo, the 22-year-old from South Africa, is playing in his first Masters this week. He has benefitted from lots of advice from Gary Player, though, and uses it to great advantage with a birdie at the first. An impressive start from Higgo, who won on the PGA Tour in just his second start last year.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:24
Danny Willett: ‘I would go to the ends of the earth to win another major’
Danny Willett, the 2016 champion, is out on the practice putting green. He gets underway in an hour’s time. He spoke to The Independent about recovering from a dramatic fall after winning the green jacket six years ago and why he’d go through it all again to win another major.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:21
The Masters: Woods’ historic comeback
Of course, Tiger Woods has already completed one Lazarus-like comeback at Augusta, when he surged through the field as others faltered on the final day in 2019 to clinch a remarkable 15th major.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:19
The Masters: Weir struggles at first
It’s been a less than spectacular start for 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, though. The Canadian makes a double-bogey at the first, after falling short with his approach and then three-putting on the green.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 14:10
The Masters: Harrington in second group
The next group to go off the first includes 2021 Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington. The Irishman is playing at The Masters for the first time since 2015 and it’s been ten years since he last made the cut, finishing T8 in 2012. There are no problems here, though. He finds the middle of the fairway and then sticks his approach to just 6ft.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 13:53
The Masters: Olazabal begins with a birdie
As cool as you like. Olazabal claimed the Green Jacket in 1994 and 1999. Now, 23 years on from that second victory, the Spaniard rolls in a birdie putt from the fringe at the first hole.
Tom Kershaw7 April 2022 13:49