Prediction: Tiger Woods won’t break 70 today
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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Bold prediction: Tiger Woods won’t break 70 today.
OK, that’s not bold at all. Even when not having to overcome a 144-day layoff and sex scandal that prompted him to delve into his soul, Woods has never much enjoyed Thursdays at Augusta National.
His all-time first round scores: 72, 75, 70, 71, 72, 75, 70, 70, 76, 75, 74, 72, 73, 72, 70,
The first 70 came in 1997, when he recovered from a front-nine 40 and went on to drill the field, winning by 12 strokes.
Last year’s 70 actually was a disappointment, considering the easy conditions. It left him in 20th place.
The other challenge today is the wind, predicted to gust to 25 mph around the time that Woods tees off, at 10:42 p.m. Pacific time.
If Woods stumbles, it won’t be for a lack of course knowledge. Not only has Woods played every Masters since 1995, he has logged 126 practice holes over the last month, by the Augusta Chronicle’s count.
Woods on Monday sounded uncertain of what to expect.
“The fact that I haven’t really played at all, that’s a little bit concerning,” he said. “I’m hoping I get my feel back quickly … (my) feel for the game, for shots, for how my body is reacting and what my distances are going to be.
“I hope I get that back … hopefully on the first hole. If not, please hope it’s the second hole.”
--Teddy Greenstein
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