(From left to right) Tom Watson, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus embrace after teeing off to begin the 86th Masters. Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

By Tyler Brand

The air was fresh with a chill breeze, yet a steady fog covered The Augusta National Golf Course early on the morning of Thursday, April 7 as the three honorary starters, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson, teed off to begin the 86th Masters Tournament. Although The Masters begins with this historic tradition every year, one thing made this Masters feel all the more exciting. Tiger Woods, just over a year after a nearly fatal car crash, was in the field and ready to play. Although there was speculation about his physical ability to make it through the tournament on the extremely undulated Augusta National course, when asked about whether he thought he could win, he said, “I do.”

Tiger Woods’ SUV following his crash in February 2021.
Photo credit: ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock.

This news shocked golf enthusiasts around the world, as at one point it was thought that Woods might never be able to play competitively again due to the severe injuries he suffered to his lower right leg. Woods’ leg was so severely mangled in the car crash that Woods claimed amputation “was on the table.” Fortunately, amputation was avoided, and Woods was able to make a steady recovery back to swinging a golf club again. The first hopeful step in his gradual return was when he played with his son, Charlie Woods, at the PNC Championship in December  2021. On the second day of the tournament, Woods and his son shot an incredible 15-under-par 57. Woods looked relatively capable of a full swing, but it was evident that he was not quite ready to resume tournament play, given his lack of stamina and persistent pain in his right leg. However, it undoubtedly proved that he would eventually return, in some facet, to professional golf.

Tiger hitting a bunker shot on Sunday at The Masters. Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images.

Woods, although potentially at a disadvantage due to his lack of stamina as a result of the injuries he incurred, also decided to not request permission to use a golf cart at The Masters. Although using a cart on the PGA Tour is fundamentally against the rules, Woods could have requested to use a cart, as his injured leg surely puts him at a disadvantage against his competitors. On the other hand, Woods most likely felt that using a cart would have been a significant and unfair advantage over the rest of the field, and Woods certainly did not want any advantage or special treatment. When asked if he’d use a cart, Woods stated, “No. I wouldn’t, no. No. Absolutely not. Not for a PGA Tour event, no. That’s just not who I am…That’s not how I’ve always been, and if I can’t play at that level, I can’t play at that level,”

In the end, Woods ended up making his 22nd consecutive cut at The Masters at two-over-par. He was able to play the weekend at The Masters, which is definitely a tremendous step in the right direction in his recovery, but Woods was not satisfied with his 47th place finish. Despite Woods’ unquenched desire to win, he is surely pleased that he was able to endure the long week at Augusta.

Scottie Scheffler holds the championship trophy after winning The Masters. Photo credit: David J. Phillip/AP Photo.

Meanwhile, Masters winner Scottie Scheffler is most definitely pleased with his performance at Augusta, in just his fourth start there. Scheffler won his first-ever tournament just 57 days before winning The Masters on April 10, meaning he won four out of the last six tournaments he’d played in up to that weekend.

Scheffler entered the week as the world number one and one of the favorites to win, and historically the world number one never lives up to the expectations put forth by the media. Furthermore, only five golfers, including Scheffler, in tournament history have won The Masters while holding the number one ranking in the official world golf rankings. 

Although Scheffler is a mere 25 years old, he showed the poise and composure of a seasoned veteran. He was able to tune out the media and the pressure that comes with being the world number one and focus on himself and his game en route to his wire-to-wire victory. 

Scheffler entered the final hole with a five-stroke lead. After pushing his drive into the right rough, Scheffler executed a well-thought-out, flighted shot just over the pin to give himself a relatively straightforward putt for birdie. Understandably, Scheffler succumbed to his nerves for the first time all day and four-putted for a double bogey. However, his play over the rest of the week allowed him to be able to afford this mistake. His lack of experience on such a grand stage is surely to blame for the nerves, so as he continues to mature and put himself in positions such as this one, his ability to control his nerves will improve, and he will undoubtedly continue to excel. If Scheffler can continue this historic run, he may be able to etch his name in history as one of the greatest to ever play the game. However, nothing is guaranteed for the young 25-year-old, and he will have to work hard to improve his game both physically and mentally if he wants to create a historic legacy for himself.