Posted April 6, 2015, 5:29 pm
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Staff Writer

Woods sinks birdie putt on first practice hole at Augusta

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Tiger Woods chips on the driving range during the first practice round at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday.
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Tiger Woods chips on the driving range Monday at Augusta National. Woods' chipping has been under the microscope after struggling with his game around the greens in his most recent tournaments. He showed better feel around the first green, practicing from the front and right sides by chipping onto the green's various shelves.

A patron stood next to the No. 1 fairway, looked at the person next to him with eyes wide and said, “That’s Tiger Woods.”

Woods started his Monday practice round at 4:20 p.m., playing alongside Mark O’Meara. The Masters Tournament patrons quickly took notice and crowded around every hole along the way, constantly shouting words of encouragement between shots.

Woods hit his drive off No. 1 into the No. 9 fairway, but he recovered by hitting his approach over the pine trees to around eight feet from the hole. He drew applause by sinking the birdie putt.

Woods’ chipping has been under the microscope after struggling with his game around the greens in his most recent tournaments. He showed better feel around the first green, practicing from the front and right sides by chipping onto the green’s various shelves.

He placed a tee on the green to simulate the week’s pin positions, and he kept most chips within close range. He left one short after attempting to run it up a right-side mound, but chips with more loft stayed within a few feet of the hole.

Woods blasted his drive down the middle on No. 2 and hit the back of the green to reach the par-5 in two. He practiced hitting out of the right greenside bunker with success.

Tiger Woods

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Masters Record

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 sinks birdie putt on first practice hole at Augusta

Masters Record

From AugustaChronicle.com »

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