Masters golf 2022: 'The place was electric' – Tiger Woods vows to play through pain barrier in chase for glory

Tiger Woods stole the show after a frantic opening day of the 86th Masters at a windswept but always wonderful Augusta as a fine one-under 71 left him four shots off the lead held by South Korea's Sungjae Im. The 15-time major winner produced brilliant birdies at the par-three sixth and 16th holes with a four at the par-five 13th hole overshadowing two bogeys on the eighth and 14th holes amid some glorious par-saving putts at the ninth and 18th holes. Ad/> Woods' return to competitive golf is miraculous after a horrific car crash in February 2021 in Los Angeles left him in hospital for three months, wondering about possible amputation of his damaged right leg, but is also in keeping with a career that continues to defy the odds after several career-saving back operations.

MastersWoods make solid Masters start on his return to golf following horrific car crash10 HOURS AGO He made some typically swashbuckling putts with his swing technique looking as formidable as ever, but walking around the course proved his fiercest challenge after several days preparing for his return to the fray after 17 months away. /> «No, it did not get easier, let's put it that way. I can swing a golf club,» said the evergreen Woods, who donned the Green Jacket in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019.

«The walking's not easy, and it's difficult. As I said with all the hard work, my leg, it's going to be difficult for the rest of my life. That's just the way it is, but I'm able to do it.

/> »I mean, the place was electric. I hadn't played like this since '19 when I won because in '20 we had Covid and we had no one here, and I didn't play last year. So to have the patrons fully out and to have that type of energy out there was awesome to feel.