What happened during the first round of the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — It was just before noon on Thursday when, from the middle of Augusta National’s third fairway, Tiger Woods stood over an approach into the short par-4. He pulled the wedge back, broad shoulders turning, hands climbing high, a turn so familiar in golfing lore that you scribble a sketch on a bar napkin. It looked good off the club, but the shot was heading for a blind landing into the fourth’s elevated green. With the ball at its apex, Woods’ eyes toward the sky, he lurched forward, taking a half-step, like he wanted to jump forward, maybe trot a few steps to see where the ball would come down.

But those days are over.

Woods sort of hitched and hesitated, then put his weight on his left leg and stood in place.

This is the Tiger of 2022. Equal parts incredible and painful. Not his play. But him. That swing feels like a time machine, but everything else makes you remember where he’s been.

Tiger Woods shot a 1-under 71 in his return to the Masters on Thursday, a steady opening round that included 13 pars and three birdies.

The 15-time major champion, currently T-10, is four shots back of Sungjae Im, who is the 18-hole leader at 5-under par.

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Per Justin Ray...

The forecast tomorrow is looking better for the morning wave even though it will be chilly.

Starting at 2 p.m. ET, the average wind speed is forecasted to be 22 mph with gusts north of 30 mph.

Buckle up, the greens are going to get faster and Friday afternoon will be a difficult test of golf.

Sungjae Im fired a first-round 67, currently the clubhouse leader at The Masters.

Im recorded five birdies, two bogeys and one eagle in his opening round.

Im's best finish at Augusta National came in 2020, when he placed T-2 the year Dustin Johnson won The Masters.

The 24-year-old is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour.

Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka bogeyed No. 11, 12 and 13, known at Augusta National as Amen Corner.

Koepka was two-under heading to the Back 9 after birdies at No. 8 and No. 9.

He sits at 1-over par currently, six shots off the lead.

Rory McIlroy and Will Zalatoris are the only two players to birdie the par 4 11th hole.

White dogwood, which has gone through a recent redesign adding length and slope, is averaging 4.47 stokes.

The most difficult this hole has ever played is 4.64 in 1956.

The only hole playing tougher today is the 18th. Holly is averaging 4.58 strokes.

The scorecard says birdie, but Hovland's shot at No. 12 really has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

With this birdie putt on No. 10, Dustin Johnson has moved to 4-under par, tied with Cameron Smith atop the Masters leaderboard.

Johnson won the 2020 November Masters and has been mostly a nonfactor since then, including missing the cut at Augusta National last year.

But his first round is going great.

Tiger Woods’ final tee shot in the first round of the Masters was one of his worst of the day, far left and off a tree. He came up grimacing, not looking good at all, and that was before he knew it went 193 yards.

He got a break though with where it landed, in casual water. After extended time with a rules official he had 270 to the pin but was hitting off dry grass instead of wet pine straw. Total lay up situation with his second shot, but a nice pitch got him onto the green with another par putt in what has been a day of them.

He leaves to a standing ovation, well deserved. A 71 in his first round since November 2020? He’ll take it, no doubt.

Woods put himself in position for another birdie on No. 17 with an exceptional second shot, but the putt broke more than he thought it would and he was forced to settle for par.

Tiger has put up his second birdie of the day, making a beautiful 29-footer on No. 16 to move back to 1-under for the day.

It's the seventh birdie of the day at No. 16, and it got a fist bump from Tiger. He had a great read, and took a pretty direct line with some break to the left at the pin.

Cam Smith has just birdied his third straight hole, making a five-footer on No. 16 to move to 6-under on the day, two shots ahead of Sunjae Im.

It was another beautiful iron shot by Smith off the tee on the par-3 16, just a striking ball flight that went 172 yards and nestled near the pin for the makeable putt.

Tiger Woods owns the world. I just finished a radio hit with Newstalk ZB radio in New Zealand and every question was about Woods. Not a peep about current leader and Australian Cam Smith, who is five shots ahead of Woods right now.