Tiger Woods admitted that just being able to play the Masters felt like a victory as he enjoyed the “electric” atmosphere generated by his return to Augusta National.
Woods carded an opening 71 to lie just three shots from the clubhead held by Australian Cameron Smithwho is looking to join Woods as the only players to win the Masters and Players Championship in the same year.
When asked if being able to compete equated to victory after sustaining serious leg injuries in a car crash 14 months ago, Woods replied, “Yes.”
Pressed to find out why, the 46-year-old added: “If you had seen what my leg looked like where it is now, the pictures… some of the guys (teammates) know that.
“They saw the pictures and they came to the house and they saw it. To see where I come from, to go from there to here, it was not an easy task.
“I am very lucky to have this opportunity to be able to play, and not only, to play in the Masters and to have this type of welcome.
“I mean, the place was electric. I hadn’t played like this in 19 when I won because in 20 we had covid and we had nobody here, and I didn’t play last year. So having the customers completely outside and having that type of energy there was awesome to
Woods spent three months in a hospital bed following the single-vehicle crash on February 23 last year, when it was discovered he was driving nearly twice the speed limit legal and had hit a tree at about 75 mph.
“People I have no idea how difficult it was,” he added.
“My team does. They worked with me every day. We haven’t taken a day off since I got out of bed after those three months.
“Of course, some days are easier than others. Some days we push it pretty hard, and other days we don’t, but still doing something.
When asked how he would recover for Friday’s second round, Woods added: “A lot of treatment. Lots of ice baths. Basically, I freeze to death.
Just being able to play the Masters feels like a win for Tiger Woods
