Masters 2022: 5 things to know for Friday’s second round at Augusta
Tiger Woods is back — and even better, he's in the mix at the Masters.
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The Masters Champions Dinner was a hit. The Par-3 Contest was adorable. And on Thursday morning, after a short weather delay, the ceremonial tee shots were struck and the 2022 Masters officially got underway.
The story of the day? We’ll give you a hint: It starts with “T” and ends with “iger.” Yes, Tiger Woods returned to competitive play in triumphant fashion, posting a thrilling round of one under par, four shots behind leader Sungjae Im, who fired an opening round of 67. The best news? Fans can watch Woods again tomorrow — now a little bit closer to prime time.
In addition to Tiger, there are of course some other storylines to follow. Here are five things you need to know for Friday’s second round at Augusta.
1. Tiger Woods is in the mix!
When Woods won the Masters in 2019, it became the biggest story in sports. If he does it again in 2022, given what he’s gone through since his car crash last year, he may well break the internet.
Obviously, that’s getting a bit ahead of ourselves, but the five-time Masters champ is firmly in the mix through the first round. His one-under 71 included three birdies and two bogeys — one of which came on the par-5 8th, a hole he’s dominated in years past.
Woods’ putting was solid overall, especially his short putting, which was required to save him as his approaches came up short a few times mid-round. All in all, things are looking good for the Big Cat — and we can’t wait to see what’s in store on Friday.
Is it possible for the World No. 1 to fly under the radar? With Tiger Woods in the field it is
2. The World No. 1 is looking solid
Newly-minted world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler proved his quick ascendancy is no fluke with a solid opening round of three-under 69. Perhaps most impressively, Scheffler didn’t make a bogey until the 18th hole.
3. Past champions are playing well
Augusta National is widely regarded as a course where experienced players have an edge. That’s tough to argue when past champions are populating the leaderboard, and there are several of them lurking after Thursday’s first round. Dustin Johnson, Danny Willett, Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia, defending champ Hideki Matsuyama, and of course, Tiger Woods, are all within striking distance after Round 1.
4. The young guns are out in force
If it seems like a fresh-from-college stud is winning on the PGA Tour seemingly every week, you’re not imagining things. There’s been a huge influx of young, talented players making their mark on the Tour in recent years, and you’ll find plenty of them near the top of the Masters leaderboard. Joaquin Niemann, Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris and Garrick Higgo all fired rounds of even par or better on Thursday.
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