Posted April 6, 2015, 4:49 pm
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Staff Writer

Woods makes return

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Tiger Woods chips on the Augusta National Golf Club practice range as caddie Joe LaCava looks on during the first practice round of the Masters. Woods did not play in 2014 because of back surgery.
Article Photos

Photos description

Tiger Woods walks to the practice facility during the first practice round at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday.

As the one-man parade strolled toward the practice area late this afternoon, the cheering started as the cameras rose to catch the man they were all waiting for.

“Tiger!”

“Woot!”

“Tiger!”

“We believe in you, bud!”

For the first time since his final-round 70 in 2013, Tiger Woods finally played in front of patrons at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday.

He got to the practice range around 3:30 p.m., going right to the chipping area. An early chip fell short of the green before his later attempts got closer to the pins. The ropes closest to Woods reached about 10-deep.

Woods then walked over to the driving area.

After one man took a few pictures, he handed the camera back to his father, ready to leave the patron scrum watching from the stands.

“We saw the man. We saw the G.O.A.T.,” he said.

Though Woods, a four-time Masters champion, made two visits to Augusta this past week, he didn’t make his 2015 Masters Tournament participation official until a 3:20 p.m. Friday tweet.

He had back surgery just before the 2014 Masters, forcing him to miss the Masters for the first time in 20 years.

This year, he’s 15-over on just 47 holes, with his chipping holding him back.

When Woods finished with his practice work, he walked through a lane surrounded by young autograph seekers and got into a cart.

Like a school of fish, patrons followed.

Tiger Woods

Photos: Tiger returns

Photos: Tiger through the years

Masters Record: Tiger Woods

Year	Place	Score	Round				Money
Year	Place	Score	1	2	3	4	Money
2013	4	-5	70	73	70	70	$ 352,000
2012	40	+5	72	75	72	74	$ 32,000
2011	4	-10	71	66	74	67	$ 330,667
2010	4	-11	68	70	70	69	$ 330,000
2009	6	-8	70	72	70	68	$ 242,813
2008	2	-5	72	71	68	72	$ 810,000
2007	2	+3	73	74	72	72	$ 541,333
2006	3	-4	72	71	71	70	$ 315,700
2005	1	-12	74	66	65	71	$ 1,260,000
2004	22	+2	75	69	75	71	$ 70,200
2003	15	+2	76	73	66	75	$ 93,000
2002	1	-12	70	69	66	71	$ 1,008,000
2001	1	-16	70	66	68	68	$ 1,008,000
2000	5	-4	75	72	68	69	$ 184,000
1999	18	+1	72	72	70	75	$ 52,160
1998	8	-3	71	72	72	70	$ 89,600
1997	1	-18	70	66	65	69	$ 486,000
1996	60	+6	75	75			$ 0
1995	41	+5	72	72	77	72	$ 0

Woods makes return

Masters Record: Tiger Woods

From AugustaChronicle.com »

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