Five-time Masters champion, Tiger Woods ended the opening day of the 2023 Masters far behind the pecking order in a marginalized display at the Augusta National Golf Course in Washington.
Woods put in a below-par performance as he struggled to shoot a 2-over 74, finishing behind playing partners Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.
The 15-time major champion appeared to be in pain after his first-round bunker shot on the last hole and now he faces an uphill task not to miss the Augusta National for the first time as a professional.
“I didn’t hit my irons close enough today,” Woods said after the match. “I didn’t give myself very good looks. I need to do a better job of that going forward to hopefully get myself back in this tournament.”
The trio of Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Brooks Koepka now lead the Masters as they shot superb seven-under-par 65s on Day 1 while Roy McIlroy made another slow start in which his five holed birdies were cancelled out as he carded a level-par 72.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is in pole position after a four-under 68.
