Tiger Woods’ 2020 golf season has been entirely forgettable. He hasn’t finished inside the top-10 at an event since January, and his putting has been abysmal, leading to a missed cut in September at the U.S. Open.
Now he’s in contention to win another green jacket at Augusta National.
Woods went out early on Thursday and matched his best first-round score at Augusta in his career with an error-free 68 that left him in a tie for fourth at the time, three shots behind leader Paul Casey.
Woods began his round on No. 10, and carded his first birdie at the par-5 13th hole with a comfortable two-putt.
Tiger Woods' first birdie of the Tournament. #themasters pic.twitter.com/hbIt7DGdlE
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 12, 2020
Woods also took advantage of the par-5 15th, drilling a 10-footer for birdie, and then delivered his finest shot of the day at the par-3 16th. Woods hit a perfect approach that rolled back down the slope and required a short tap-in for birdie.
Using the slopes. Tiger Woods birdies No. 16 to reach -3 at #themasters pic.twitter.com/TZlWyHTWg8
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 12, 2020
Woods also cashed in at the difficult par-4 1st hole, and unleashed a minor fist pump after draining a 20 footer.
Tiger is fist-pumping. 🚨
Another birdie to get to -4 and he's just one shot back of the lead.pic.twitter.com/Av0ZSZsvv5
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 12, 2020
Woods will be back on the course in the afternoon session on Friday.
