Dare I say Tiger Woods is back?
After he fired a six-under round of 66 Friday at Augusta, I think I can clearly say Tiger isn’t ready to go away yet. Tiger finished up his second round with a birdie, leaving him tied for third place just three back from the leader, young Rory McIlroy.
Honestly, has golf in recent years seemed the same without Tiger Woods at the top of the leaderboard? Throw all the Tiger haters to the side on this one, and just appreciate what he is doing yet again in one of the most prestigious golf events in the world.
We all remember Tiger’s first win back in 1997 when he ran away from the field, his back-to-back victories in 2001-02, and of course his epic comeback in 2005 when he made one of the most memorable chip-ins on the 16th hole on his way to a fourth green jacket. Since 2005, Tiger has won every other major except The Masters; the closest he has come to winning his fifth green njacket being in 2008 when he finished runner up to Trevor Immelman.
Now Tiger enters the final two days of play three back of the lead, with a fifth jacket in sight to put him one behind golf great Jack Nicklaus. If Friday’s performance was anything, it was a statement that Tiger still has plenty of great golf left in him.
Many questioned Woods for getting new swing coach Sean Foley this past year, and it was said that his swing was worse leading up to The Masters than ever. It sure didn’t look that way on Friday with a vintage Tiger showing up to play.
Every time Tiger would make a mistake, he would make up for it on the next hole. He started the day going bogey, birdie, and bogey before finishing up the front nine with a one-under 35.
The back nine was Tiger’s coming-out party. The monster tee shots, the jaw dropping approach shots, and the clutch putts were all reminiscent of the previous top-ranked golfer in the world.
The most impressive Tiger moment of the day was on the 18th hole where he left his tee shot to the right in the second cut on the slight dog leg right. He wrapped his approach shot around the tees, landing the ball on the front of the green and leaving it less than 10 feet from the hole, resulting in his final birdie of the round.
Tiger must keep playing to the level he played Friday. McIlroy has already stated that he isn’t intimidated by Tiger, but the young golfer has had his major meltdowns before.
Back to my question: is Tiger Woods back? One round of golf really doesn’t do justice, but the world was able to see some of those fearless shots that made Tiger great.
With just two rounds left in the year’s first major, everyone will be bringing their A-game chasing the opportunity to sport the green jacket. If Woods is able to win his fifth jacket this weekend, then watch out golf world, the Tiger is back.
