Tiger Woods arrives at Augusta Nationwide for Masters observe on April 3, 2022.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Questions, questions, questions on Tiger Woods and his shock look at Augusta Nationwide for this week’s Masters fewer than 14 months faraway from the grisly automobile crash he was in outdoors of Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2021.
Woods arrived to Augusta on Sunday afternoon, hit balls for 20 minutes on the observe vary after which performed some holes on the again 9. Woods was scheduled to reach to the course Monday afternoon to observe and play some holes, in keeping with his caddie, Joe LaCava, who was strolling the course early within the morning.
Listed here are some questions and solutions involving Woods, who on Sunday tweeted that it will be a “game-time determination” on whether or not he’ll compete within the event or not.
Q: Does he should declare earlier than tee instances are launched? In that case when is that?
A: Woods doesn't have any exhausting deadline by which he should commit, in keeping with a event official. The tee instances are introduced at about midday on Tuesday, and so long as Woods hasn’t informed event officers that he’s not going to compete, then he’ll be on the tee sheet with a time for Thursday’s opening spherical. Woods doesn’t really want to inform anybody his intention till his precise tee time on Thursday — at which era he can withdraw if he doesn’t really feel bodily up for it.
Q: If Woods opts to not play is there a alternative ready for the decision?
A: No. In contrast to common PGA Tour occasions, which have a listing of alternates who can get into the event area if gamers withdraw earlier than teeing off, the Masters is an invitational and has its area set prematurely. There are not any alternates. The sphere is the sector and if gamers withdraw, their place it not taken by one other participant.
Q: What's Tiger doing on Monday?
A: He’s most definitely spending time bodily getting ready himself to observe, which incorporates stretching and a few lifting. His plan has been to observe and play some holes within the afternoon. We hear Tiger will tee off at 3 p.m. and doubtless play 9 holes Monday.
Q: What’s the scene like at Augusta on a usually quiet Monday?
A: That is the twenty eighth Masters I’ve lined for The Publish and I’ve by no means seen this many individuals on the grounds on a Monday. Monday on the Masters a number of years in the past was a sleepy, quiet expertise. At the moment, with the prospect of Woods turning up at any second, the grounds are mobbed with anticipation. The observe space has been packed since this morning.
Q: How are the bookmakers reacting to Tiger?
A: There’s numerous motion involving Woods, although in the intervening time, he’s a 50-1 guess to win. It looks as if Las Vegas is in a wait-and-see mode with Woods, who’s left open the chance that he gained’t play (although that’s extremely unlikely). In accordance with a Yahoo report, as of Monday morning, Woods’ betting odds had moved from +6600 to +5000. “As soon as Tiger Woods started training at Augusta, bettors flocked to BetMGM to put wagers on the golf legend,” mentioned Matt Cosgriff, the director of buying and selling for BetMGM. “Tiger moved from +6600 to +5000 to win the Masters final week in anticipation of his return to the course. Woods is at present BetMGM’s greatest legal responsibility to win the event.”
In accordance with BetMGM, Woods has obtained 7.6 p.c of the bets and seven.7 p.c of the cash to win the event. When it comes to ticket proportion, Woods has obtained extra bets than every other competitor.
Q: If Woods performs does he actually have an opportunity to win?
A: I don’t consider Tiger can be right here this week if he didn’t suppose his golf recreation was in a state that was ok to win. So, if his proper leg can deal with the physicality of strolling the hilly terrain for four-plus days, he is aware of tips on how to get the ball round Augusta Nationwide in addition to anybody, and successful a sixth inexperienced jacket can't be discounted.
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