TIGER Woods was right. He does not have the game to compete with the current generation of golfing titans any more – at the Masters, or anywhere else.
That was painfully clear as the five-time Masters champion toiled to a scrappy first round 74, while playing partners Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele spent most of the opening day filling the top two spots on the leaderboard.
Tiger Woods struggled from the off on his way to a 74
Even Woods felt the heat as his injury-ravaged body came under pressure
Woods’ playing partner Viktor Hovland dazzled in his floral shirt as he topped the leaderboard on -7
Anyone who has seen Woods in his pomp would have found it hard to watch the 47-year-old try to defy an injury-ravaged body, and do battle with two younger, stronger, and more confident players.
His two-over-par finish leaves him nine shots behind the joint leaders Hovland, Jon Rahm and LIV rebel Brooks Koepka.
Meanwhile Rory McIlroy’s goal of completing a career grand slam with victory here got off to a frustrating start as he carded a level-par 72.
The writing was on the wall for the Tiger-lovers as early as the second hole.
While his rivals smoked their drives down the fairway at the must-birdie par five, Woods tugged his tee shot into a bunker – and after laying up he fired his wedge shot thirty feet past the pin.
All that did was give Hovland the line, after hitting his second shot five feet closer to the flag.
He paid careful attention as Tiger’s birdie attempt tailed off at the last minute, and made no mistake with his eagle effort.
That was the launch pad for a brilliant, bogey-free 65 that saw Hovland claim the early clubhouse lead, with Schauffele posting a highly satisfactory 68.
It also seemed to set the tone for a round where Hovland and Schauffle could do little wrong, and Woods could do little right.
Maybe he was dazzled by the Norwegian player’s garish, floral shirt, which should have brought the fashion police racing to Augusta.
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A duffed chip on the third, after a terrific drive, saw Woods stumble to his first bogey.
And a three-putt on the fifth hole was followed by a cruel lip-out at the seventh, which meant another two shots had been given up.
At three over par with almost two thirds of the round still to play, it was time to look away – unless you actually enjoy watching a great player brought to his knees.
But the thing about Woods is he does not when – or how – to stay down – when things are going against him.
He said on Tuesday that every shot is worth fighting for, and he proved it by plugging away to the very end.
But he admitted after the round that he was “in constant pain”.
The agony was etched on Woods’ face as he hit his second shot at the last from an awkward stance, with one leg outside a fairway bunker and the other one buried in the sand – a moment that worried fans.
After drilling his ball into another bunker to the right of the of the final green the 15-time Major champion spent several seconds hopping on his left leg.
He said that was to protect his right leg, which he admits was close to being amputated after it was mangled in his horrific road crash two years ago.
He said: “It’s a good job the weight was on my left leg. I’m good. Hopping on the left leg is fine. If I did it on the other one, not so fine. That leg is still pretty sore.”
Asked if the injury only flared up over certain shots, Woods replied: “No, it’s constant pain.”
The highlight of his round came at the long eighth, where he almost holed a fifty yard chip with his third blow, leaving him with a kick-in birdie.
That shot was handed back on the eleventh, a hole that really highlighted the difference between Woods and the new generation.
The fighting qualities he has always been so proud of kicked in as Woods restored a large chunk of his battered pride with birdies at 15 and 16.
That allowed him to claw his way back to one over – only for his fourth bogey, at 18, to bring a sour end to the proceedings.
The narrative has already changed from Woods targeting a sixth green jacket, to trying to avoid a first missed cut at Augusta in 23 starts since joining the professional ranks.
It will be a big ask of a man who can see age and his battered body teaming up against him.
Meanwhile Rahm climbed from the depths of despair to the top of the leaderboard with a thrill-a-minute opening round at Augusta.
The world No 3 looked shell-shocked as he four-putted the first green to start the Masters with an ugly double bogey.
But Rahmbo played the remaining seven holes in NINE under par, to match Ryder Cup team-mate Hovland’s pace-setting 65.
Rahm’s score was the best in Masters history by anyone starting with a double bogey, and he said he refused to get rattled by that awful start.
Rahm said remembering the famous quote from Seve Ballesteros when he four-putted at Augusta helped him stay calm.
He added: “Seve just said: ‘I miss, I miss, I miss, I make’ That quote came to my mind as I walked to the second tee. if you think about it like that, it helps you to accept it and move on.”
But sadly Rory McIlroy was unable to join in the scoring spree.
Like Rahm he stumbled to an early double bogey, when he made a total hash of the seventh hole after hitting a wild drive into the trees down the left of the fairway.
Two birdies in the next three holes got him back to level par, and suggested McIlroy could also be on the charge.
But a bogey on 11 put the brakes on. And even though more birdies at 15 and 16 pushed him up to one under, McIlroy then dropped another shot at 17 – and a level par 72 means he has allowed a host of top players to steal a march on him.
At least he can claim a unique distinction at the Masters. He became the first player to be mic’d up and provide some on-course chat at Augusta, although plenty of social media users argued that was an unnecessary distraction.
Jon Rahm recovered from a terrible double bogey after four-putting the first to join Hovland at the top of the leaderboard
LIV rebel Brooks Koepka joined the Europeans on -7 to lead the Masters
But it was a frustrating day for Rory McIlroy who battled to an up-and-down 72 to shoot level-par
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an average golfer do?
The average golfer shoots around 80-85 yards with their driver.
What is the average score of a weekend golfer on the golf course?
An average score of a beginner golfer is about 100. As you get better at golf, your scores improve. You’ll most likely begin with 9 holes and progress to 18 holes.
How can I instantly improve my game of golf?
The best way to improve your golf game overnight is to practice for 20 minutes per day, three times a week. You must practice consistently if you want to perform well in any tournament. Practice makes perfect!
Can watching golf improve your skills?
Yes, it helps me!
One of the most popular and loved sports is golf. The sport involves hitting a ball towards a target from different distances with clubs, sticks, etc. It is a great way for people to unwind and enjoy some time outside. But did you know that there are many benefits of playing golf? Here are just a few:
- Golf helps you get fit
- Playing golf makes you feel good
- When playing you don’t have too much to think about
- Golf is a game that teaches patience
- Inspiration comes from watching golf
- Golf is fun
- It is very easy to learn how to play golf
- Golf is cheaper than other sports
- Golf is a stress reliever
- Golf is a social activity
Is golfing bad for me?
Golf is good for your health. In fact, it’s very healthy. Studies show that golfers live longer and are healthier than non-golfers. They also tend to be less stressed out, which means they’re happier people.
How do I lower my golf score by 5 strokes?
Your swing mechanics must be improved. Even though you know how to hold the golf club properly, if you aren’t feeling comfortable swinging it correctly, you won’t get the correct feedback from your body. Once you’ve learned how to hold the club correctly, you can focus on strengthening your flexibility and strength. You can start slowly, gradually increasing your distances. As you work towards better scores, you’ll notice that your game will become more consistent.
Statistics
- Trackman found that over 65% of amateur’s golf shots finish short of the target from 160 yards. (golfinsideruk.com)
- According to Shot Scope’s database of more than 30 million shots, 80% of missed greens are missed short. (todaysgolfer.co.uk)
- If you have 14 attempts and convert as little as 50% of them into Pars – you can double bogey the remaining 4 holes and still shoot 87 for your round. (golfmadesimple.com)
- By adding 10 more yards to all their golf shots amateurs will increase the percentage of greens they hit by 8 – 10%. (golfinsideruk.com)
- However, if you go in thinking that you will get all the way down to a 10, you will likely stunt your progress because your expectations are way out of line. (practical-golf.com)
External Links
shotscope.com
nicklaus.com
troy.golf
blog.trackmangolf.com
How To
Five easy exercises that will improve your golf swing
Golf is a very popular sport. You will need to practice hard to be a good golfer. Practice is the best way to improve your game. Golf should be played at least two hours per week. But, not everyone has the time. You may be experiencing this problem and you can improve your game with these five simple exercises.
- Start from ground up: Stand straight, keep you back straight, hold your golf club straight, bend your knees slightly, then swing the club. Focus on the target and keep your head still. This will help you position yourself before you hit the ball.
- Your balance is important. You should stand straight, keep both your feet together and ensure that your body weight is evenly distributed. When you hit the ball your weight should shift to the front leg.
- Bend your knees- Place your hands on the hips to help you bend your knees. Take a deep, slow breath. Next, bend your knees and exhale. This will allow your lower body to follow through when you swing the club.
- Relax your shoulders. Instead, let your shoulders relax and allow them to swing the club freely. This will enable you to generate power and speed without having to use excessive force.
- Focus on the target. Rather than looking at the ball, focus on your target. Look straight ahead and focus on where you want to hit the ball. Be aware that if the ball is in front of you, it will be difficult to see where you are wrong.
