AUGUSTA, Ga. _ If this were 1997 or 2001 or 2002 and Tiger Woods had the kind of round he had on Thursday, the only remaining question about the Masters would be his margin of victory. Fact is, he did have exactly the same score, a 70, in the first round of those years and won by 12, two and three strokes, respectively.
Woods certainly can earn another green jacket this year, as he last did in 2005, when he began with a 2-over-par 74. He is playing well enough and is generating enough positive energy all over Augusta National Golf Club. But he will have a whole lot more competition than he used to face.
Shortly after he left the course, one stroke out of the lead, golfers of all shapes, sizes and nationalities moved ahead of him. By the end of the day, he was in a 10-way tie for 11th, trailing by four.
