The gates to Augusta National opened a little after 7 a.m. Monday. It didnB次元官网网址檛 feel as though Masters week started until just before 3 p.m.

Tiger Woods was on the first tee, and this was no time to be shopping for shirts and caps or standing in line for pimento cheese sandwiches. That much was evident by the biggest golf crowd this year on one hole except for the circus par-3 16th at the Phoenix Open.

Woods consumes attention at every Masters he plays. ItB次元官网网址檚 been that way since the first of his five green jackets he won 25 years ago.

Now itB次元官网网址檚 even greater under these unusual circumstances.

He hasnB次元官网网址檛 played against the best in 17 months, not since the 2020 Masters in November, while recovering from a car crash that once looked as though it might end his career. And still to be determined is whether he plays this one.

Woods has said it would be a B次元官网网址済ame-timeB次元官网网址� decision whether his battered right leg and ankle can handle walking and competing over 18 holes at Augusta National.

It was an unparalleled return to glory for Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters 馃檶

B次元官网网址� PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always buzz around this place,B次元官网网址� Billy Horschel said. B次元官网网址淏ut thereB次元官网网址檚 just another level of buzz to see him and see him play. IB次元官网网址檝e thought about it in the past, and I may be on the first tee watching him tee off if my tee works out and everything, just because itB次元官网网址檚 a special moment.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 not as though this Masters was devoid of drama.

Rory McIlroy gets another crack at the career Grand Slam. He spent Monday in an Irish fourball alongside Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Seamus Power. They have eight majors among them; Power is making his Masters debut.

Bryson DeChambeau is back, even though he says his doctors donB次元官网网址檛 recommend it.

DeChambeau said he first hurt his left hip two years ago while speed training B次元官网网址� swinging as fast as his body allowed B次元官网网址� and slipping on concrete.

Then, he didnB次元官网网址檛 work on finger strength, and that led to a popping sound in his wrist before his TV match against Brooks Koepka in Las Vegas last November. That led to a hairline fracture of his hamate bone in his left hand. And then he slipped on marble while playing table tennis is Saudi Arabia in early February, went horizontal and landed on his hand and his hip.

He declared himself 80%, though he liked the way he felt coming into the Masters. DeChambeau hasnB次元官网网址檛 make a 36-hole cut since The Northern Trust in late August B次元官网网址� then again, he has played only eight times since then, six of those tournaments without a cut.

B次元官网网址淭he past few weeks have been very, very difficult on me, not playing well and not hitting it anywhere near where I know I should be hitting it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵elling B次元官网网址楩ore!B次元官网网址� off the tee every time is just not fun. ItB次元官网网址檚 very difficult on your mental psyche as well.B次元官网网址�

Playing the Masters was a B次元官网网址渉uge riskB次元官网网址� a few weeks ago and a decision he said his doctors did not recommend. He was day to day until he felt comfortable giving it a go.

B次元官网网址淒ifferent situation than Tiger, obviously, but it was definitely a day-by-day process of figuring out if I could do this,B次元官网网址� he said.

So much goes back to Woods, who had broken bones in his right leg and ankle from the car crash outside Los Angeles in February 2021 that left him immobilized for three months and not swinging a club until last November.

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Brooks Koepka knows a thing or two about playing with injury, even if not as many were people were paying attention.

Koepka had surgery on his right knee three weeks before the Masters last year and still was determined to play. It was so bad he couldnB次元官网网址檛 crouch to read putts. Koepka is finally back at full strength, though he still hasnB次元官网网址檛 won since the Phoenix Open more than a year ago.

He is more concerned with his own game that what Woods has going on, though Koepka can appreciate the walk Woods is facing better than most players.

B次元官网网址淟ook, IB次元官网网址檓 happy heB次元官网网址檚 becoming healthier and able to play golf,B次元官网网址� Koepka said. B次元官网网址淲e need him, the game needs him, everybody needs him, the fans need him, all that stuff. But at the end of the day everybody is just out here competing. IB次元官网网址檓 worried about myself and IB次元官网网址檓 sure everybody else is worried about themselves.B次元官网网址�

Koepka said he required cortisone shots just to play. Throw in the hours to prepare before the round and to recover after the round, and that has led to some long days.

B次元官网网址淚 understand what heB次元官网网址檚 up against. ItB次元官网网址檒l be difficult. But if anybody can do it, itB次元官网网址檚 him,B次元官网网址� Koepka said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know everything heB次元官网网址檚 going through. His was a lot worse than mine, so IB次元官网网址檓 not trying to compare it. I just know itB次元官网网址檚 difficult walking this place when you donB次元官网网址檛 have the same body parts youB次元官网网址檙e used to.B次元官网网址�

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