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Tiger Woods is notorious for getting off to a slow start in majors, but not this time. His green jacket Masters defense got off to a flying start as he logged an opening round 68. He did not have a single bogey on a major scorecard for the first time since 2009.
For those of you that don’t follow @GCTigerTracker on Twitter, let’s just say he’s excited.
Tiger ties a career low for openers at the Masters. First bogey-free round here since 2008.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) November 12, 2020
First bogey-free opening round in any major since the 2009 PGA. A few things have happened since then!
Tiger had everything working today, showing his usual magic unusually early. Woods, at the advanced golf age of 44, tends to ease himself into tournaments. It could be that he likes to wait until an uptick in competition.
Woods is, however, as elated as we are about his opening-round 68.
Q: What are you most encouraged about?
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) November 12, 2020
TW: “Everything.”
Buckle up, folks.
Tiger Woods’ answer “everything” here means, well, everything: his back, his driver, and his level of comfort on the greens. He’s well-known for tinkering with his own games, so it’s not everyday that he expresses satisfaction with where he is. He was sharp today, and you can see for yourself.
THAT’S DEFENDING CHAMPION TIGER WOODS TO YOU pic.twitter.com/1geLevecgu
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) November 12, 2020
In the hunt
He’s currently in fourth-place at -4, with Paul Casey leading the pack at -7. This is the perfect position for an aging Tiger Woods to give himself a chance by Sunday. If you were to ask Tiger, he would tell you it’s go time.
FORE PLEASE. TIGER. WOODS. pic.twitter.com/tuQQJthrVt
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) November 12, 2020
“There is a sense of ease when I come here, just because I understand how to prepare for this golf course,” Woods said.
Well, he’s not wrong. He won this bad boy last year, and we learned never to doubt him again. His real supporters never did, and they’ll be at the edge of their couches tomorrow when he tees off at 12 p.m. ET.