Check in each day of this week’s Masters for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topic in the tournament, and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com.
Tiger Woods is back in action this week, and it’s at the most famous tournament in golf — the Masters. Woods, who has logged just four competitive rounds since last summer, tees off at 10:18 a.m. ET and will play alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.
What should we expect from Woods? And who will log the lowest round in this star-studded group? Our writers and editors break it all down below.
The 87th Masters finally starts on Thursday, and now we’ve had a few days to watch and listen to what Tiger Woods has said about his health and chances. He’ll tee off at 10:18 a.m. alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele. Two questions: What will Tiger shoot, and who will be the low man in that threesome?
James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Tiger Woods is going to shoot a crisp, unmemorable, 1-under 71 Thursday. He will trail Xander Schauffele, whose 5-under 67 will be the low round of the morning.
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor: Agree, James! I expect Xander to come out as the hot one of the three. He’ll be the low man, but I think 69 is the number. Tiger will have both hiccups and highlights, ultimately signing for even par.
Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I’ll follow Jess’ lead here and go with an even-par 72. Tiger might not be fully healthy, but he knows this course well enough to get around without too much damage on the scorecard. Plus, with warm weather in the forecast, he should be able to properly loosen up and hit some good shots. As for low man, I’ll take Xander with a 68.
Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): Everything I’ve seen and heard indicates Tiger hasn’t had the greatest recovery since LA. There hasn’t been that “I’m still here to win” statement like last year and it sounds like he hit some squirrely ones playing with Rory. As someone who’s notedly always high on Tiger, I’m not this week. I say 74 Thursday, setting up a rally to make the cut Friday. I will counter my colleagues by saying Vik will be low man after a sparkling 68.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): I can see Tiger playing well but letting his round slip a little bit late, although I have no scientific evidence as to why I might think that. He wasn’t at the course on Wednesday, so it was an obvious day of rest to prepare for walking 72 holes. That makes me think he’ll be fresh for his opening round, so let’s say a one-under 71. But that won’t touch Viktor Hovland, who I think leads that group on Thursday with a 69.
Josh Sens, senior writer: This will be the opposite of his last appearance in a major. In contrast to his nightmare start last year at St Andrews, he will come out hot and finish steady. Two-under 70. The same score both his partners will shoot. Though Tiger’s scores will get progressively worse from there.
Ryan Barath, senior equipment editor (@rdsbarath): Thanks to his experience and sharp short game, Tiger will shoot a comfy two-under 70 that will show why he’s won this event five times. Low man in the group will be Xander, but only by a single shot over Woods, with a ho-hum 69.
