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.

“Welcome back Tiger,” shouted one fan. “We missed you Tiger,” called another.

Woods appeared to appreciate the gestures of goodwill and in contrast to his sometimes aloof behaviour in the past, he tipped his cap and nodded in appreciation, mouthing ‘thank yous’ as he moved along.

“Great morning for golf, Tiger,” he heard as he moved along. “It sure is,” he replied.

No-one but the players and their caddies are allowed beyond the gallery ropes from Monday but Woods’ closest advisors were not far away. His coach Hank Haney, manager Mark Steinberg and spokesman Glenn Greenspan, the former Masters media director, monitored reaction as they shuffled along with the rest of the multitude.

But there was no shortage of humour either. At the 240-yard, par three fourth, Woods drew a long iron from his bag but his caddie, Steve Williams, stopped his boss and handed him a hybrid.

“Getting older,” Woods quipped for the crowd to peals of laughter.

His first effort carved off to the right and finished in the front trap. Calling for another ball, he pulled the second.

“Oh boy,” he sighed as he stooped to pick up his tee. “It’s a hard hole from here.”

Couples striped a long iron into the back of the green but he was diplomatic afterwards when asked about Woods, who failed to escape from the bunker at the first attempt, hit a few clumsy chips at the fifth and hit a tree with his tee shot at the 13th.

“He’s playing very well. He’s doing great,” Couples said. “I’m happy for him that he’s playing here this week. I think he’s fine. The reception was awesome. It’s the way it should be. He knows he made a blunder and he’s back here to play golf to make up for it. Good golf will do that and bad golf will do that. He’s a good kid.”

Cheered warmly as he walked through Amen Corner for the first time this week, Woods was joined by Jim Furyk on the 13th green. Furyk will be trying to beat Woods to the title but Couples conceded that while the game’s top player will as intimidating as ever, he cannot be considered the hot favourite because of his five-month lay-off.

The reaction of the fans told Woods that the process of forgiveness has already begun.

That makes him a winner before a shot has been struck in anger.