Tiger Woods: Masters Meltdown Destroys Hope for Classic Finish

You can put away the red carpet and call off the celebration, because the golfer formerly known as Tiger Woods will not be showing up. 

Here is a lesson that continues to be beaten into our consciousness every year: Augusta can strike as quickly as any predator. 

On Day 1, Henrik Stenson found this out as he went from leader to part of the field in one glorious meltdown that had him score an 8 on the final hole. 

The Swedish star was able to right the ship and is currently 2-under 142 for the tournament, well within reach of the leaders James Dufner and Fred Couples, who are at 5-under 139 after the first two rounds. 

Tiger Woods is hoping that he can do more than stay level after a disaster of a day that saw him completely lose composure on 16. 

It is one thing to hook a shot too far, or miss a putt that should be made, but Woods has lost the one thing that is needed to tame this wild Augusta beast, and that is poise. 

The maddening part for Tiger is that he was scorching hot to start the round, grabbing birdies in the first and third holes. 

Every last golf observer was looking ahead to a weekend that would feature classic Woods running down the field and imposing his will. 

Perhaps Woods was looking ahead as well, because he hit a snag, and then another and then he just about broke down altogether. 

He would go on to bogey 4, 6 and 9, but he was never able to leave his trouble in the front nine. 

The drives that have been sublime in the last month were well off their intended targets, and the putting that kept him steady at Bay Hill was nowhere to be found. 

Frustration mounted after birdie chances turned to pars, and then came 16. Woods hit a ball well right of the hole,, leaving the golfer to drop his club and then kick it. 

The hallowed grounds were the stage for a moment better left for kids barely learning the game. Woods had lost it. 

Had he just hit bad shots, you could expect him to fix the errors on the range, but he is in no condition to fix anything. 

Woods is broken, in swing and mind. 

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