Doug Ferguson, AP Golf Writer Updated 6:16 pm, Sunday, April 8, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-13', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 13', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press Image 1of/13 CaptionClose Image 1 of 13 Patrick Reed celebrates after … [Read more...] about Patrick Reed wins Masters for 1st major title
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The golfer who sprained his ankle celebrating a hole-in-one is in second after Round 1 of the Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tony Finau’s last 24 hours included a little bit of everything: Pain. Embarrassment. Concern. Relief. Determination. Excitement. The 28-year-old American with Samoan roots battled through a severely sprained ankle and shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round at the Masters. How he injured it was somewhat comical, albeit painful to watch. How he overcame it was downright extraordinary. “You can’t make that up,” he said. It was one of the best — certainly most unpredictable — story lines of the tournament’s first day. Finau dislocated his left ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday and then popped it back into place. X-rays were negative. Finau had an early morning MRI on Thursday to determine whether he could make his Masters debut. Doctors cleared him to play, and his ankle was tightly taped as he headed to the practice range. No pain-numbing shots or pills. Just pure grit. “I was … [Read more...] about The golfer who sprained his ankle celebrating a hole-in-one is in second after Round 1 of the Masters
Jordan Spieth holds first-round lead at Masters
By Doug Ferguson Updated 9:27 pm, Thursday, April 5, 2018 AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods attracted most of the attention. Jordan Spieth caused the most concern. The first round at the Masters had a wide-open feel until Spieth hit his stride Thursday afternoon. He saved three straight pars with his short game. He ran off three straight birdies to take the lead. And then he fired an 8-iron at the pin on the par-3 16th, letting the club twirl through his hands as he walked away, knowing only that it was another good one. It plopped down 5 feet away. “You don’t know where it’s going to end up,” he said, “but you know it’s going to be in a good position.” Spieth took only 10 putts on the back nine. He made five consecutive birdies, a career best for him in the majors. Even a bogey on the final hole felt like a par the way he navigated out of the trees and limited the damage with a pitch that stopped inches from the cup. That gave him a … [Read more...] about Jordan Spieth holds first-round lead at Masters
Tiger battles through with clutch shots in Masters return
Viet Nam News AUGUSTA, United States — Tiger Woods, unable to make birdies on the Augusta National par-5 holes he has dominated over the years, grinded his way through his long-awaited Masters comeback round on Thursday. With the world hoping to see one of the great injury comebacks in sports history, the 14-time major champion fired a one-over par 73 for a so-so start to his first major round since the 2015 PGA Championship and first Masters round in three years. "It felt great to be back out there again. It’s nice that I came out to play," Woods said. "I could have easily let the round slip away from me but I got it back and I’m right back in this tournament." Woods underwent four back surgeries, the latest a spinal fusion, to heal nagging health issues that left him wondering if he would ever walk without pain much less return to top-level golf. But after two top-five finishes in tuneup events last month, Tigermania again buzzes at Augusta National, where … [Read more...] about Tiger battles through with clutch shots in Masters return
Woods one over in ‘awesome’ return to Augusta National
Tiger Woods of USA plays an approach shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP) "Seventy-three is fine," Woods said. "It's really hard to run away from it, but it's also really easy to lose it out there. "By the end of the week there will be a bunch of guys with a chance to win this tournament." The leaderboard was tightly bunched as the first round moved into its later stages. Tony Finau, starting a day after injuring his ankle celebrating a hole in one in the par-three contest, was four-under through 17. In the clubhouse, newcomer Li Haotong was among five players sharing the early lead on three-under par 69. Li, the first Chinese man to crack the top 50 in the world rankings, moved to four-under with an impressive run of three birdies over Augusta's Amen Corner trio of holes. But the 22-year-old gave a shot back with a bogey at 18 to fall into a tie with former British Open champion … [Read more...] about Woods one over in ‘awesome’ return to Augusta National