Masters 2011: Tiger Woods Lurking After First-Round 71

Statistically, it has been the first round in the Masters that has been the worst for Tiger Woods. His average is just over 72 strokes.

Though his one-under(-par) 71 might seem a little pedestrian compared to the 65 carded by Rory McIlroy and Alberto Quiros, a little perspective comes in handy when there are 54 holes left in a tournament designed to create volatility atop the leaderboard.

On the down side, Woods can look back at the missed putts at holes 10 and 11. There was also the missed tee shot, right of 17. There were the short, missed birdie putts on 15 and 18. There was the failure to capitalize on the reachable par-5s at 2 and 15.

And yet he said he’s pleased with his position. And he should be.

Woods could have avoided the three-putt on 10, and the short putt on 11 is something he’ll shake his head over.

But, for the most part, he put the ball on the greens in places that don’t put a lot of stress on his putting. Furthermore, his recovery shots—like the third at 17—proved that he has the near-the-green short game to overcome his mistakes.

The names above Woods on the leaderboard shouldn’t be much of a concern for him. If anything, one has to ask how, on a day made for scoring with perfect conditions and temperatures, the likes of Lee Westwood (72), Luke Donald (72), Dustin Johnson (74), Ian Poulter (75) and Hunter Mahan (75) all didn't do better.

Of those, Donald was the most surprising. He struggled on the front nine, slipping to three-over(-par) after six holes. A wonderful eagle on 15 followed by a birdie on 16 got him to one-under. But the momentum stopped with a bogey on 17.

Poulter reached two-under through 13 holes when he blew a gasket. Bogeys at 14 and the easy 15th took the steam out of his game, and he capped the round with a double-bogey at the 18th.

They can still contend, but there's a long climb ahead. Tiger’s play at the Masters, where he has averaged approximately two strokes under par in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, will make their climb that much tougher.

Moreover, McIlroy is young and talented, and he’s won on both the European and American tours, but he hasn’t played Augusta National enough. It takes many rounds to learn the course. The same can be said for Quiiros - talented, long but inexperienced.

It isn’t impossible for him to hold onto his lead, but Woods won’t be losing too much sleep Thursday night thinking about a McIlroy and Quiros six shots ahead of him.

Y.E. Yang, Aberto Quiros, Matt Kuchar, Ricky Barnes and Phil Mickelson, among others,  are all above Woods too. Yang and Quiros don’t have the experience, but Kuchar does; Barnes has made a good showing in majors of late, but he hasn’t been able to close the deal.

That leaves Mickelson.

He’s experienced, talented and familiar with Augusta National. He has three green jackets to Woods' four.

Let’s hope that when it comes down to the back nine on Sunday, these two are in the hunt. Nothing from Thursday suggests that they shouldn’t be.