With Tom Watson in the lead in the opening round of the Masters, the 60-year-old is threatening to steal Tiger Woods’ thunder in his highly-anticipated return to competitive golf.
With a 5-under-par 67, Watson is rekindling memories of his play last year at Turnberry, where he nearly won the British Open and became the oldest winner of a major in golf history. Watson birdied three of the final four holes Thursday, making putts of 20 feet at No. 15, 12 feet at No. 16, and three feet on the finishing hole to a huge ovation.
Watson had the stuff to win last year at Turnberry, where length off the tee was not a requirement and the greens were slow. But winning at Augusta might be another matter. Watson won the Masters in 1977 and 1981, but has missed the cut seven straight years. He hadn’t broken 70 at Augusta since 1997.
Tiger Update: A plane flew over Augusta National, trailed by a banner that read, “Tiger, did you mean Bootyism?” Undaunted, Woods is 1-under through three holes, making a four-footer for birdie at No. 3.
