AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods emerged from the Augusta National clubhouse flanked by three earpiece-wearing security guards and navigated the sea of humanity that stood between the game’s top-ranked player and the first hole.
As the fans parted and the well-wishes and kind words started toward the game’s wayward star, Woods paused and smiled.
This was about golf, plain and simple. We all know what he did, but Thursday, though, was about watching what he can do.
In retrospect, Woods’ first-round 68 was more reunion than return, more coming back than comeback.
It started, though, with a palatable tension — a drama that normally is reserved for the back nine on the weekend. Before Woods put his first tee in the ground, it was the Masters with an MTV edge, professional golf with a dash of professional wrestling. All that was missing were the dry ice and entrance music.