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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Questions, questions, questions about Tiger Woods and his surprise appearance at Augusta National for this week’s Masters fewer than 14 months removed from the grisly car crash he was in outside of Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2021.
Woods arrived to Augusta on Sunday afternoon, hit balls for 20 minutes at the practice range and then played some holes on the back nine. Woods was scheduled to arrive to the course Monday afternoon to practice and play some holes, according to his caddie, Joe LaCava, who was walking the course early in the morning.
Here are some questions and answers involving Woods, who on Sunday tweeted that it would be a “game-time decision” on whether he’ll compete in the tournament or not.
Q: Does he have to declare before tee times are released? If so when is that?
A: Woods does not have any hard deadline by which he must commit, according to a tournament official. The tee times are announced at about noon on Tuesday, and as long as Woods hasn’t told tournament officials that he’s not going to compete, then he’ll be on the tee sheet with a time for Thursday’s opening round. Woods doesn’t really need to tell anyone his intention until his actual tee time on Thursday — at which time he can withdraw if he doesn’t feel physically up for it.
Q: If Woods opts not to play is there a replacement wait ing for the call?
A: No. Unlike regular PGA Tour events, which have a list of alternates who can get into the tournament field if players withdraw before teeing off, the Masters is an invitational and has its field set in advance. There are no alternates. The field is the field and if players withdraw, their place it not taken by another player.
Q: What is Tiger doing on Monday?
A: He’s most certainly spending time physically preparing himself to practice, which includes stretching and some lifting. His plan has been to practice and play some holes in the afternoon. We hear Tiger will tee off at 3 p.m. and probably play nine holes Monday.
Q: What’s the scene like at Augusta on a normally quiet Monday?
A: This is the 28th Masters I’ve covered for The Post and I’ve never seen this many people on the grounds on a Monday. Monday at the Masters a few years ago was a sleepy, quiet experience. Today, with the prospect of Woods turning up at any moment, the grounds are mobbed with anticipation. The practice area has been packed since this morning.
Q: How are the bookmakers reacting to Tiger?
A: There’s a lot of action involving Woods, though at the moment, he’s a 50-1 bet to win. It seems like Las Vegas is in a wait-and-see mode with Woods, who’s left open the possibility that he won’t play (though that’s highly unlikely). According to a Yahoo report, as of Monday morning, Woods’ betting odds had moved from +6600 to +5000. “Once Tiger Woods began practicing at Augusta, bettors flocked to BetMGM to place wagers on the golf legend,” said Matt Cosgriff, the director of trading for BetMGM. “Tiger moved from +6600 to +5000 to win the Masters last week in anticipation of his return to the course. Woods is currently BetMGM’s biggest liability to win the tournament.”
According to BetMGM, Woods has received 7.6 percent of the bets and 7.7 percent of the money to win the tournament. In terms of ticket percentage, Woods has received more bets than any other competitor.
Q: If Woods plays does he really have a chance to win?
A: I don’t believe Tiger would be here this week if he didn’t think his golf game was in a state that was good enough to win. So, if his right leg can handle the physicality of walking the hilly terrain for four-plus days, he knows how to get the ball around Augusta National as well as anyone, and winning a sixth green jacket cannot be discounted.
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