Supporters give prodigal son warm Augusta reception

SOME described the atmosphere as subdued but Tiger Woods’ first run around Augusta National in front of thousands of fans can only be qualified as an outstanding success for the disgraced world number one.

The American teed off at 8am with his pal Fred Couples, just as the gates were flung open to a colourful mass of patrons for the first time this year.

Worryingly for those who have slapped their hard earned cash on Woods winning a fifth green jacket this week, his opening tee shot finished not in the middle of the first fairway but on the edge of the adjacent ninth hole, some 40 yards left of his intended target. But that hardly seemed to bother the thousands who snaked up the hill at the opening hole to see the world’s most famous athlete.