Anticipations of roars, and plenty of mystery ahead of the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The anticipation is greater than ever for the return of the roars to Augusta National. Even greater is the mystery surrounding the Masters, on so many levels.

It's not just about trying to get a sense of who might be best suited for a green jacket on the second Sunday of April, especially with the choices running deeper than ever. Ten of the top 20 players in the world already are major champions.

It's about who might be playing — Tiger Woods.

And to a lesser extent, it's about who will be missing — Phil Mickelson.

Mind you, the Masters never needs a bump. Mainstream sports fans get in the mood at the start of the year upon hearing the opening three chords of “Augusta” by Dave Loggins, the theme song CBS plays in promotional commercials.

The warmth of the Florida swing brings golf's annual rite of spring that much closer.

And then social media accounts came alive Tuesday — nine day before the April 7 start of the 86th Masters — with screenshots of various charts tracking a plane from South Florida to Augusta, a private jet registered to Woods.

He played 18 holes, according to a person on the grounds, presumably to see if his body could handle walking and playing the undulating terrain of Augusta National.

Is the five-time Masters champion really going to play just 14 months after his right leg was so badly damaged in a car crash outside Los Angeles that Woods said doctors contemplated amputation?

“I think for golf and for the Masters tournament and for everyone, to have Tiger there would be phenomenal,” Rory McIlroy said. "Anything Tiger Woods does in the game of golf is heightened whenever he’s there. It would be awesome for him to be there.

“Obviously, no one knows but him if he can make it around