Woods starts Masters title defence
augusta — Tiger Woods got his Masters title defense off to a steady start with a par on his opening hole on Thursday after first-round action of golf’s most eagerly anticipated annual gathering resumed following a nearly three-hour weather delay.
The delay due to lightning and heavy rain forced players off the course 25 minutes after the first groups teed off at Augusta National Golf Club and ensured opening-round action will spill into Friday given the decreased November daylight.
Woods, whose defense of his fifth Green Jacket was already put on hold for seven months because of the Covid-19 outbreak, began his day at the par-four 10th three hours later than scheduled but under sunny skies.
The 15-times major champion, who has struggled for form in 2020, found the fairway with his first tee shot but sent his approach left of the green where he managed to get up and down for par after a brilliant pitch to four-feet.
Tournament favourite Bryson DeChambeau, who overpowered Winged Foot with his driver in September’s US Open to win his first major, missed a sixfoot birdie putt at the 10th and saved par at the 11th after an errant tee shot.
Larry Mize, who won the 1987 Masters, was the early on-course leader at two-under through four holes. The Masters, typically played in early April, is employing threesomes and sending golfers off both the first and 10th holes over the first two rounds for the first time.
Among the notables who will not complete their first round on Thursday are world number one Dustin Johnson, three-times champion Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, who needs a win this week to complete the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors. —