Monday Return: Tiger's Got His Groove Back!
/He's dancing to the music in front of a live television audience, he's jovial, he's hugging everyone in site, he's even stopping to listen to Mike Weir bore him with stories about his bum elbow. 
Tiger came out firing Monday at Augusta and even broke out a set of headphones (coincidentally made by his new sponsor as of January.) Mitvah baby!
Either way, what an unexpected upbeat, confident and even bold statement in the four-time Masters champion's Monday return from his leave of absense. And, through the practice and first hole, no sign of the wedge yips. My take at GolfDigest.com.
More takes to come as they are filed and posted.
**The reviews are in and it's a hit! Of course, it's only Monday but Tiger impressed.
Rex Hoggard of GolfChannel.com:
It was vintage Tiger. A drive blown almost into the ninth fairway at the first followed by an approach shot to 3 feet for birdie. A deft chip (that’s right, deft chip) to a foot at the third for another. A wedge that spun to 3 feet at the seventh for birdie.
Tiger even wheeled out an old cliche after the round, the best sign of a return to norm.
"It's been a process," Woods said about his nine weeks away from the game. "But I'm on the good side now."
Asked about the difficulty in making the decision to play the Masters this week, Woods said: "It's a progression. I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament, and it's finally there."
Steve DiMeglio writing for USA Today:
He looked relaxed. He looked fit. He looked strong.
And he didn't look afraid standing over a chip shot.
Mark O'Meara liked what he saw, too. Dave Shedloski writes:
“It was a good to be out there with him today,” said O’Meara, who indicated that the two might reconnect Tuesday. “I miss him. I think he feels the same way.
“I saw some good signs. I like what he’s doing,” O’Meara added. “His pitching looks a lot better. Look, there’s a lot of pressure on him. But there always has been his whole life. I think he’s glad to be back and healthy and certainly at Augusta. He’s worked hard on his pitching. I think it looks better. Never underestimate Tiger Woods.”
Scott Michaux has a longer piece about the state of stardom in golf and weaves in an assessment of Woods, writing:
A funny thing happened at 4:25 p.m. on an overcast Monday afternoon at Augusta National.
It felt a lot more like 2:30 p.m. on a Sunday – in 2001.
**The Augusta Chronicle's gallery captures the energy Woods exuded.
No Laying Up posted this Vine of Tiger grooving to his tunes.
