Tiger Woods Dominates Masters Again
The 74th Masters gets under way at Augusta National on Thursday after a build-up dominated by the return to golf of world number one Tiger Woods. The four-time Masters winner is swinging his golf clubs on his first tournament since a four-month break following the disclosure of a string of extra-marital affairs. Despite his absence, the 14-time major champion is still the favourite. Fellow American Phil Mickelson, the 2004 and 2006 Masters champion, is regarded as the main danger to Woods. South Africa’s Ernie Els, a two-time runner-up, is another player widely tipped to clinch a first Masters Green Jacket following two straight wins on the US PGA Tour with his Callway golf clubs this season. Three Englishmen – Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter – go into the tournament ranked in the world’s top 10, and hopes are high for a first British winner since Nick Faldo in 1996. A field of 96 will contest the year’s first major, with Argentine Angel Cabrera defending the title he won in a play-off from Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell 12 months ago. Woods has been grouped with countryman Matt Kuchar and South Korea’s KJ Choi in the first two rounds and will tee off in the penultimate group at 1342 (1842 BST) on Thursday. The 34-year-old American faced the media on Monday for the first time since his affairs became public, admitting that he was “blown away” by the positive reception he received from fans, and pledged to rebuild his image. Mickelson believes Woods will be a contender despite his lay-off, citing the 2008 US Open which Woods won after a two-month break and with a serious knee injury that required a further nine months off for surgery. “I don’t think anybody out here will question his ability to perform at the highest level. From a players’ point of view, we expect to see the same player that we have always seen,” said Mickelson.
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Tiger Woods Dominates Masters Again
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