+ A
A -
DPA
Berlin
Tiger Woods is “bummed” to be missing the Masters after his car crash in February, friend and practice partner Justin Thomas said on Tuesday.
Five-time Augusta champion Woods will be watching from home this week rather than taking to the course he knows so well.
Thomas, who regularly practises with Woods and Fred Couples ahead of the Augusta major, told a news conference: “I went over and saw him a couple times last week and try to go over a couple times during the week whenever I’m home and see him.
“We texted Friday morning, and he said it’s kind of starting to set in. He’s bummed he’s not here playing practice rounds with us, and we hate it, too.”
There had been appearances from Woods at each of the prior 19 editions of the Masters, while he was the last man to retain the green jacket with back-to-back triumphs in 2001 and 2002 and is one of only five to have celebrated a career Grand Slam, this week marking 20 years since his ‘Tiger Slam’.
Woods posted on Twitter on Tuesday: “I’ll miss running up Dustin Johnson’s bill at the Champions Dinner tonight. It’s still one of my favorite nights of the year.” Couples posted on his own Twitter page: “Thinking of my guy @tigerwoods during this week @themasters. I’ll miss you tonight at dinner. Not the same without you.”
Champion Johnson
partners Westwood in
first two rounds
Meanwhile, defending champion Dustin Johnson will be partnered by England’s Lee Westwood in the first two rounds of the 85th Masters which opens Thursday at Augusta National.
Johnson, who is bidding to follow Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in winning back-to-back titles, will tee off his first round at 10.30 am (1430 GMT), alongside Westwood and US Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci.
Rory McIlroy, who needs to win the Masters to complete the career grand slam, is in the next group out alongside Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm, who celebrated becoming a father for the first time at the weekend.
Open champion Shane Lowry will get his bid for a second major title under way at 12.48 pm alongside 2017 runner-up Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar.
Former champion Jordan Spieth, who won the Texas Valero Open on Sunday, is in the final group out at 2 pm with US PGA champion Collin Morikawa and 2020 runner-up Cameron Smith.
Lee Elder, who was the first black player to compete in the Masters, joins Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as an honorary starter at 7.45 am.
Berlin
Tiger Woods is “bummed” to be missing the Masters after his car crash in February, friend and practice partner Justin Thomas said on Tuesday.
Five-time Augusta champion Woods will be watching from home this week rather than taking to the course he knows so well.
Thomas, who regularly practises with Woods and Fred Couples ahead of the Augusta major, told a news conference: “I went over and saw him a couple times last week and try to go over a couple times during the week whenever I’m home and see him.
“We texted Friday morning, and he said it’s kind of starting to set in. He’s bummed he’s not here playing practice rounds with us, and we hate it, too.”
There had been appearances from Woods at each of the prior 19 editions of the Masters, while he was the last man to retain the green jacket with back-to-back triumphs in 2001 and 2002 and is one of only five to have celebrated a career Grand Slam, this week marking 20 years since his ‘Tiger Slam’.
Woods posted on Twitter on Tuesday: “I’ll miss running up Dustin Johnson’s bill at the Champions Dinner tonight. It’s still one of my favorite nights of the year.” Couples posted on his own Twitter page: “Thinking of my guy @tigerwoods during this week @themasters. I’ll miss you tonight at dinner. Not the same without you.”
Champion Johnson
partners Westwood in
first two rounds
Meanwhile, defending champion Dustin Johnson will be partnered by England’s Lee Westwood in the first two rounds of the 85th Masters which opens Thursday at Augusta National.
Johnson, who is bidding to follow Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in winning back-to-back titles, will tee off his first round at 10.30 am (1430 GMT), alongside Westwood and US Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci.
Rory McIlroy, who needs to win the Masters to complete the career grand slam, is in the next group out alongside Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm, who celebrated becoming a father for the first time at the weekend.
Open champion Shane Lowry will get his bid for a second major title under way at 12.48 pm alongside 2017 runner-up Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar.
Former champion Jordan Spieth, who won the Texas Valero Open on Sunday, is in the final group out at 2 pm with US PGA champion Collin Morikawa and 2020 runner-up Cameron Smith.
Lee Elder, who was the first black player to compete in the Masters, joins Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as an honorary starter at 7.45 am.
