Last-Minute Projections for Tiger Woods at the 2024 Masters

Some of the most memorable moments in the history of golf have stemmed from five simple words.

Tiger Woods at the Masters.

The legendary golfer will take the course at Augusta National Golf Club once again on Thursday for the opening round of the 2024 Masters. While the 48-year-old is no longer the dominant force he was at his peak, fans will surely treat it as appointment viewing when he approaches the first tee at 1:24 p.m. ET.

There was a time when any Masters predictions for Woods would start with the question of him or the field. After all, he has five green jackets and 14 top-10 finishes during 25 Masters appearances in his career.

It was just five years ago in 2019 when he rediscovered some of his magic and won the tournament for the fifth time in his career. It was a defining moment for someone who has enjoyed so many and represented his first major championship since 2008.

Woods showed incredible resiliency at 43 years old with various surgeries in his rearview mirror and captured his 15th career major title.

Unfortunately for golf fans, the 16th isn't going to come this week.

While it would be an incredible story, Woods has struggled to finish tournaments following a February 2021 car accident that left him with serious injuries.

He has either withdrawn or missed the cut in four of his six starts since then with his two finishes coming at the 2022 Masters (47th place) and the 2023 Genesis Invitational (tied for 45th place). He withdrew from the Masters last year after shooting three-over par through the first two rounds.

The Genesis Invitational was his only start of the 2024 season, and he ended up withdrawing with an illness on the second day and was given an IV.

To his credit, Woods has fought through adversity and thrived at the Masters throughout his career. He will always be a legend at the course where he has enjoyed so much success, but the barometer of success is different at this stage.

He will tap into some of that veteran course knowledge and history and figure out a way to make the cut, but he will not be a serious challenger for the title come Sunday. The thought here is Woods will finish in 45th place after a respectable showing that leaves fans encouraged about the possibility he will play in future majors this year.