Tiger Woods' chances of chasing down Jordan Spieth were slim-to-none on Sunday, but the four-time green jacket winner still walks away from Augusta feeling much better about his game.
Things went from bad to worse for Tiger Woods on Sunday at the Masters when he appeared to jam his wrist and right shoulder on his second shot from the pine straw on the 9th hole. But despite the disappointing final round, Woods posted his best finish since 2013, a 5-under week that him at tied for 17th when he walked off the 18th green. The result seemed unfathomable just a week prior to the Masters.
Woods, who missed all nine fairways and had only one birdie on his way to a 1-over 37 front nine, grimaced and shook his hand after his iron seemed to hit a tree root. He seemed to favor his wing after his tee shot on No. 10, and though the official Tiger Woods Withdrawal Watch was off as he continued his final round with Nike stablemate, Rory McIlroy, the 14-time major champion seemed to be running on empty.
Indeed, Woods and McIlroy began Masters Sunday as the marquee attraction but quickly became cameo players in the Jordan Spieth Show.
Woods, making a remarkable return to competition Thursday at Augusta after a two-month layoff, began the final round tied at 6-under with his playing partner. He and McIlroy, who entered the week looking for the career grand slam, had little realistic chance of putting pressure on Spieth, who was 10 ahead of them at the start.
Tiger, who put Saturday’s opponent, Sergio Garcia in his rearview, looked to have a more comfortable afternoon with his Heir Apparent. Perhaps not, as the former world No. 1 was unable to make a birdie until well into his front nine.
First birdie of the day for #TigerWoods at the 8th. The face says it all... A frsutrating day so far #TheMasters http://pic.twitter.com/MIew65JUJW
— Golfing World (@Golfingworldtv) April 12, 2015
Woods, who had not played a competitive round since February until Thursday, looked listless from the get-go and quickly slid down the leaderboard as Johnson & Johnson (Dustin and Zach), Rickie Fowler, and Ian Poulter all zoomed ahead of the scuffling superstar.
Even though Sunday's round was a disappointment, Woods has to leave the Masters encouraged with his game. Just a week before the tournament started, we didn't even know if he would enter or if he could play competitive golf anymore. The chipping woes of 2015, however, never showed up and Woods made his way around Augusta as if that particularly ghastly stretch never even happened. If he did have the "yips," he's done a remarkable job of getting past that particularly crippling affliction.
We're not sure when we will see Tiger next, but it's safe to assume he'll return as a full-time PGA Tour player after this showing. We thought the goal at the start of the week was simply not to embarrass himself and maybe make the cut. But Tiger contended, and for a stretch on Saturday, looked like the dominant player who once overwhelmed the game. Perhaps we'll see him again soon.
Source SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2015/4/12/8395589/tiger-woods-masters-2015-score-results
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