AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – Tiger Woods stood on the seventh green at Augusta National, legs crossed and propped up on his putter, as a V-shaped line of mowers headed back down the fairway like a flock of geese.
He seemed intrigued by this routine bit of maintenance, staring at those whirring machines for the longest time.
Then again, Woods is rarely on the course at this time of day for a practice round, with the sun setting and many of the patrons already headed for home.
Yep, these are unusual times for the four-time Masters champion.
Even so, one thing hasn’t changed. Sure, Rory McIlroy is going for a career Grand Slam, Bubba Watson hopes to claim the green jacket for the third time in four years, and Jordan Spieth seems on the verge of a breakthrough victory, but Woods remains the most compelling figure at the first major of the year.