This Article is From Mar 24, 2010

For Woods, a familiar first step at Augusta

For Woods, a familiar first step at Augusta
Orlando: When Tiger Woods showed up for a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday, his appearance might have been news. But as pre-Masters rituals go, it was close to ordinary.

Like all of the 98 invitees to the 2010 Masters, Woods is entitled to play a practice round at the club on Washington Road any time it is open. So it was not surprising that he was not the only contestant on the premises - Steve Marino also was there - just the only four-time Masters champion.

A number of PGA players have already made the quick commute from the Florida swing of the tour to practice at Augusta. An all-Australian group - Geoff Ogilvy, Mark Leishman and Michael Sim - teed up on the Monday after the WGC-CA Championship at Doral two weeks ago. For Sim and Leishman, both Masters rookies, it was their first time at Augusta National.

For all its well-deserved reputation as an ultra exclusive bastion of power, Augusta National hosts many golfers who are hardly front-page news, even in their hometown newspapers. For example, Nathan Smith, well known in the tightly knit circles of amateur golf but little-known outside them, has already played numerous practice rounds this year. Smith, the reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, will be playing his second Masters, which begins April 18. Before his first appearance ...(Continued on next page)

in 2004 as the '03 Mid-Amateur champion, Smith said he had played some 20 practice rounds.

It was not known if anyone played with Woods on Monday. But his return must have rekindled some memories for him. Through the years, he played practice rounds with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman and in his first round at Augusta, in 1995, with Nick Faldo.

Woods spent much of that day studying Faldo, a two-time champion who won the 1996 Masters, and Mark James, the Ryder Cup captain. Then, at the 15th hole, on the 60th year anniversary of Gene Sarazen's legendary double-eagle at that hole, the 19-year-old Woods launched a 330-yard drive. He then hit a 9-iron onto the green and made the putt for an eagle.

With a look of joy on his face, Woods walked to the green to thunderous applause. Fans in the gallery shouted to his caddie, the Augusta local Tommy Rennett, asking what club Woods had hit. Rennett held up nine fingers, and people shook their heads and laughed in disbelief.

The things that have changed in Woods' life since then are almost too numerous to count. But one thing remains the same. After that round, Woods declined to answer any questions from a throng of news media under the oak tree behind the clubhouse.

"That's the rules this week to make it easier on me," he said.
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