AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Tiger Woods waves to the crowd on the 18th green after finishing his round during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) The Masters patrons filled in every nook and cranny around the 18th green, awaiting the appearance of the man in red.A scene that’s been so familiar to Tiger Woods on so many Sundays at Augusta National, but this one was different.It wasn’t even 3 o’clock on the warm, sunny afternoon in east Georgia.
Over on the adjacent first hole, leader Scottie Scheffler and closest pursuer Cameron Smith had just teed off in the final group.Hunched over and limping noticeably, Woods climbed the deceptively steep hill leading up to the green as the fans slowly rose to their feet, the roar building as they saluted a remarkable comeback if not a fairy tale of a weekend."Way to hang in there, Tiger!" a man standing back in the crowd belted out.AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Scottie Scheffler poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) RELATED: Scottie Scheffler win the Masters, earns first career major championship victoryFrom a strictly golfing viewpoint, this was hardly the Woods that so many remembered.
The guy who’s won five green jackets, the last of them just three years ago. The guy who’ll go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game, even if he never strikes another shot.