The Masters, Without Tiger
Tiger Woods will miss the Masters Tournament for the first time, after undergoing back surgery.
Despite the fallout due to his personal problems a few years ago, Tiger Woods can still draw crowds. After all, he have been victorious, four times, at the Augusta National Golf Club, the venue of the Masters, the first of the four majors to be played every year. He is the current top-ranked golfer in the world, the only active player with the most major championship. "I'd like to express my disappointment to the Augusta National membership, staff, volunteers and patrons that I will not be at the Masters. It's a week that's very special to me. It also looks like I'll be forced to miss several upcoming tournaments to focus on my rehabilitation and getting healthy," Woods said in a statement. It seems like he's getting ready for summer, when the three other majors, namely the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, take place.
Matt Kuchar, the world No. 11, believes that Tiger's absence won't hurt the tournament, which will be played on April 10-13. "We experienced a year without him. He is the center of the PGA Tour sphere. He attracts the most eyeballs, the most attention, but there are a lot of great players out here and I think the Tour held on quite well, stayed pretty healthy, while he was absent," the American said. But many believe that the tournament's rating will take a hit, a result of the Masters becoming less interesting without Tiger. This despite the fact that it's been five years since he last won a major. Some experts think that the winner of fourteen majors will have a hard time (to win another major) due to injuries and other health problems. Then again, the surgery can help him get back in form, which will make him a strong contender in the PGA Tour in the coming years.
It's no secret that Woods likes to surpass the record of Jack Nicklaus, who have the most majors. He needs five more, which may be an uphill battle. There have been many first-time major winners in the PGA Tour lately, three at the Augusta National Golf Club. Then there's Phil Mickelson, the world No. 5, aiming for his fourth green jacket. Last year was arguably the most dramatic year in his career, with a near miss at the U.S. Open, the only major he haven't won yet, followed with his best showing at the Open Championship. (He won his first Claret Jug.) There are more favorites, the likes of Justin Rose, one of the many Top 10 golfers in contention.
For the meantime, here's a look at the past winners:
2013: Adam Scott (Australia)
2012: Bubba Watson (United States)
2011: Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)
2010: Phil Mickelson (United States)
2009: Ángel Cabrera (Argentina)
2008: Trevor Immelman (South Africa)
2007: Zach Johnson (United States)
2006: Phil Mickelson (United States)
2005: Tiger Woods (United States)
2004: Phil Mickelson (United States)
