2011 Masters Leaderboard Day 1: What Tiger Woods Must Do to Stay in the Mix
The 2011 Masters, to some, is the event when Tiger Woods is to break out of his post-saga slump.
Woods has delivered some of his most heroic moments at Augusta National, a place where he always seems to play well.
Tiger's opening round 71 doesn't put him out of contention, but he's got a ways to go.
Players aren't lying down for him anymore. Rory McIlroy set the pace with a near-perfect seven-under 65, and there are plenty of top-ranked golfers ahead of Tiger, including Y.E. Yang, Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar.
I've narrowed it down to three things Tiger must do to get back into the mix at the 75th Masters.
With golf, it's always about keeping it simple.
3. Birdie the Birdie Holes
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Tiger Woods was once notorious for taking full advantage of the par-fives. Overall, it's one of golf's trickiest tests but Augusta National has a few holes that for a player of Woods' ability, should be birdies each round.
I'm talking about the par-fives.
Woods was one of four on Thursday, converting a two-putt birdie on 13.
He's not the longest player on tour anymore, which is fine, but he certainly has the length and wedge game to make two, eight, 13 and 16 into par-fours.
There's tons of talent in the field this week, and he'll have to make at least two birdies a round on those five-pars to stay in contention.
Between the par-fives, he needs to stay relatively close to par, which leads me to my next point...
2. Trust the Putting Stroke
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We've always been dazzled by the shots Tiger Woods has hit throughout his career. When he's on his game, it's argued that Woods' ball-striking is among the best of all time.
However, we're all fully aware that putting is the most critical facet of scoring in golf, and Tiger certainly made his name with his flat-stick.
During his slump, many of those sure-fire "Tiger tap-ins" that we've grown so accustomed to him making simply aren't falling.
The momentum shifting birdie putt, the eagle try after a glorious second to a par-five, or the par save after a wayward tee shot.
Thursday was no different.
Tiger had an opportunity for three straight birdies as he stood over a short putt on 13. This was right after he made a sensational par save on 12.
Miss.
Then again on 18, a chance to close his round with a confidence-building birdie.
Miss.
Tiger's using a new putter, which tells me he's been having troubles relying on his once, machine like stroke.
Believe me, it's not the putter. Woods must read his putts and let his God-given ability take over.
Trust the stroke.
1. Stay Calm
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For the Tiger fans out there who are worried about Woods not cracking 70 in his opening round, fear not.
He's only done it once in his 17 first rounds at Augusta National.
Woods was very steady on Thursday. He wasn't all over the map with his driver, executed recovery shots when needed, and although he had two blemishes on the card, he responded with three birdies.
That's what he's done in the past.
Make par after par, sprinkle in a birdie or two, and when the rest of the field begins to falter, all of sudden Woods is in the hunt.
If he bogeys, he bogeys.
Get it back on the next hole. There's no need to rush. Birdies will be made.
If Woods can do these three things, he'll be right back in the mix, and will make for some must-see television on Sunday evening.
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