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Tiger Woods makes a strong comeback in the first round of the Masters
Photo: JUSTIN LANE / EPA
Tiger Woods has made a promising and acclaimed start to the 86th US Masters on his comeback.
The five-time tournament champion, who had to fear for his career after a serious car accident 13 months ago, was one stroke under par (71) after the first 18 holes at the Augusta National Golf Club - three birdies faced two bogeys.
At that point, the Australian Cameron Smith was in the lead with 68 strokes.
The winner of the Players Championships started and ended each round with a double bogey, missing out on an even better result.
Experienced Bernhard Langer was struggling, after a double bogey on hole 12 he was up three strokes in the meantime.
At 11:06 a.m. local time, Woods had teeed off at hole 1.
After four shots he holed to par - the spectators applauded enthusiastically.
His full ability flashed for the first time on lane 6.
With the tee he put the ball on the flag and holed for a birdie.
Bogeys on the 8 and 14 bothered him, but he went under par on the 13 and 16.
The return of the crowd's favorite had been delayed as storms and heavy rain had swept across the pitch in the morning.
Langer therefore also had to wait before he was allowed to set foot on the lawn in Augusta again, 40 years after his debut.
The tournament winner of 1985 and 1993 has set himself the goal of making the cut – at the age of 64 he would thus improve his own age record.
Woods doesn't just want to be there or make the cut.
He wants to win and thus accomplish a sporting miracle.
After his car accident in February 2021, he "didn't get out of bed for three months," Woods said.
A leg had been broken several times.
"I'm lucky to be alive and still have my right leg," he once said.
25 years ago, Woods won the Masters for the first time. In 2019, after a long period of suffering with severe back pain, he won his 15th major title in Augusta.
Fans and rivals had been looking forward to the return of the exceptional golfer.
"It's just another level of excitement to see him and see him play," said his opponent Billy Horschel.
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