{"id":285220,"date":"2025-04-18T23:18:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T23:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/18\/woods-dominates-talk-but-plenty-of-contenders-at-the-masters\/"},"modified":"2025-04-18T23:18:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T23:18:14","slug":"woods-dominates-talk-but-plenty-of-contenders-at-the-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/18\/woods-dominates-talk-but-plenty-of-contenders-at-the-masters\/","title":{"rendered":"Woods dominates talk, but plenty of contenders at The Masters"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Woods<\/div>


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Those who are avid golf followers and keen students of the history of the game will know that American legend Ben Hogan recovered from a near-fatal car accident in 1949 to dominate the sport, as he had started to do before the mishap.<\/p>\n

It would be too much to expect Tiger Woods\u2019 return to active golf at The Masters to follow a similar script. The winner of 15 Majors escaped with his life but didn\u2019t avoid serious injury, in a high-speed car crash in California early last year. Doctors were even said to be considering amputation of his right leg at one stage. This along with the several other injuries and surgeries, as well as personal scandals \u2013 not to mention his supreme ability and sense of occasion \u2013 has ensured that Woods remains the biggest talking point and crowd-puller in golf, whether he swings a club in anger or not.<\/p>\n

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Hence, when he tees off at Augusta National on Thursday, he would have again brought even casual fans to the game even though logic dictates that a rusty game and a body not lately used to the physical rigours of Major championship golf will be drawbacks too big to overcome.<\/p>\n

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After all, Thursday will be 508 days since Woods was officially in competition. He had himself conjectured that his time of day-in, day-out excellence was in the past.<\/p>\n

What provides added poignancy to Woods\u2019 participation at the 2022 Masters is that it will mark 25 years since he announced his arrival at the top of golf by winning the 1997 edition.<\/p>\n

Big crowds arrived at Augusta on Monday just to watch him play a practice round, accompanied by the unmistakable \u2018Tiger\u2019 roars.<\/p>\n

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Tiger Woods gallery on 18 \u2026 for a practice round. pic.twitter.com\/EHWp7VXwO3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

No self-doubt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Woods has never been short of confidence as far as his golf game is concerned. When asked in the lead-up to the Masters if he thought he could win, the answer came in two words: \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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He has a history in proving people wrong. Just three years ago, he wrote one of the most compelling chapters in sporting history by claiming his fifth Green Jacket when most thought his best days were behind him.<\/p>\n

But the big question will be whether Woods can walk around the undulating Augusta terrain without a golf cart at his disposal. There was a time when anything other than a W used to be a big disappointment for him. For lesser mortals, making the weekend cut at the Masters is a big achievement. Fair to say, in the backdrop of whatever Woods has gone through in recent years, teeing off at Augusta 2022 will be one of his biggest victories.<\/p>\n