Masters 2023: Tracking Tiger Woods’ 2-over opening round at Augusta National

Tiger Woods is back on the course this week at the Masters.

The 47-year-old returned to golf this week for the first time in more than a month for the first major championship of the year. Woods last played at the Genesis Invitational in February, where he barely made the cut in what was his first competitive tournament in about seven months.

Woods hasn’t played much since his car crash more than two years ago, and he’s admittedly “very lucky to have this leg” after that accident. He also knows his days at Augusta National are numbered.

“I don’t know how many more I have in me,” he said Tuesday.

But while he is here, all eyes will be on Woods. So, it’s time for the Tiger Tracker.

Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with Woods’ opening round at Augusta National:

Tiger Woods' opening round at the Masters

Tiger Woods teed off at 10:18 a.m. ET on Thursday with Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.

Hole 1 | Par 4, 445 yards

Woods got off to a perfect start on Thursday morning.

His drive at the first went straight down the middle on a hole he's largely struggled at throughout his career.

While his approach shot was on the front end of the green, Woods two-putted and walked off the first hole with a par.

Tiger Woods score: Par | E

Hole 2 | Par 5, 575 yards

Woods' drive on the second landed in a bunker off the right side of the fairway, but he got right and hit the green in regulation. He just narrowly missed a 38-footer for birdie, too, and tapped in to save his par.

Tiger Woods score: Par | E

Hole 3 | Par 4, 350 yards

Woods nearly drove the green on the short par 4, but his approach shot was left short of the green — all but ruining his chance at his first birdie of the day. He then chipped up to about 8 feet from the cup, and his par putt was just off the mark.

As it was his short game that plagued him the last time out, his stumble at the third hole isn't a good sign.

Tiger Woods score: Bogey | +1

Hole 4 | Par 3, 240 yards

Woods hit his drive on the first par 3 of the day to about 30 feet from the cup, and then tapped in a par putt. It won't get him back to even, but it's a solid recovery after his first bogey of the round from the previous hole.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +1

Hole 5 | Par 4, 495 yards

Well, Woods found more trouble on the greens at the fifth.

Woods three-putted for bogey at the par 4 after his approach landed 51 feet from the cup on the front end of the green. He had a 3-footer for par, but it lipped out just right of the cup, which brought him to 2-over on the day.

Tiger Woods score: Bogey | +2

Hole 6 | Par 3, 180 yards

Woods parred the 6th hole, but left a very makable 13-foot birdie putt short of the hole. His putting issues aren't getting better.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +2

Hole 7 | Par 4, 450 yards

Woods lipped out another par putt on the seventh, this time from just 5 feet out, for his third bogey in five holes. He's hitting both greens and fairways in regulation, and has missed just one of each through seven holes. But his putting is negating anything that brings him.

Tiger Woods score: Bogey | +3

Hole 8 | Par 5, 570 yards

Finally, Woods got something going.

Woods came within just a few inches of an eagle at the par 5 after his approach shot landed just short of the green, which led him to the tap-in birdie.

Even though he's dug himself into a hole early, and his putting has been terrible so far, Woods now has his first birdie of the day on the books.

Tiger Woods score: Birdie | +2

Hole 9 | Par 4, 460 yards

Woods hit a perfect drive, but his ball was well below his feet in the fairway on the ninth, which led to a very awkward swing that looked pretty painful on his approach shot. Woods then went up-and-down at the green to save his par and finish 2-over 38 on the front nine.

He's well behind Hovland, who leads the way at 5-under and is playing alongside Woods.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +2

Hole 10 | Par 4, 495 yards

Woods' drive landed in the rough along the left side of the fairway, but he still stuck his approach about 17 feet from the cup. While he left his birdie putt just short and to the right again, Woods walked off the 10th with a tap-in par.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +2

Hole 11 | Par 4, 520 yards

Woods' drive was fine on the 11th, but his approach went right of the green on the back side, which left Woods hanging his head in the fairway. He tried to pitch his third over the bunker, but he left it way short and it came rolling back into the sand trap.

Thankfully for Woods, he pitched out and made the 8-footer to save his bogey and only drop a shot.

Tiger Woods score: Bogey | +3

Hole 12 | Par 3, 155 yards

Woods parred the 12th hole after hitting a tee shot about 40 feet from the cup on the left side of the green. He gave his birdie putt enough juice to get to the cup, but he was just a bit off the mark and had to settle with a 2-foot par.

Hovland is starting to run away with the early lead, and Woods is running out of time in his opening round.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +3

Hole 13 | Par 5, 545 yards

Woods' drive landed in the rough on the right side of the fairway, but he had a great layup and then hit his approach about 22 feet past the cup. His downhill birdie putt was less than a foot short of falling, but Woods got out of Amen Corner just 1-over.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +3

Hole 14 | Par 4, 440 yards

Woods didn't make this one easy, but he still somehow saved his par.

Woods' drive went way left into the trees. He had to hit between a gap, and then hit another tree on the way down in front of the green. Woods still went up-and-down to save par with a huge chip that landed just 3 feet from the cup.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +3

Hole 15 | Par 5, 550 yards

Finally, Woods made a putt.

After struggling on the greens all day, Woods expertly sank a 27-foot birdie putt to get back to 2-over on the round.

Tiger Woods score: Birdie | +2

Hole 16 | Par 3, 170 yards

Woods might escape with an OK round after all.

Woods landed his drive just 8 feet from the cup on the par 3 16th, and then drained his second straight birdie to get back to just 1-over on his round.

While it would have been useful early on, Woods looks like he finally figured out his putter.

Tiger Woods score: Birdie | +1

Hole 17 | Par 4, 440 yards

Woods' birdie streak ended at two, but he played the 17th perfectly. Woods' 303-yard drive was right down the center of the fairway, and he two-putted for par.

He'll head to the last hole at 1-over. While he's still well behind Hovland and others in contention, Woods' position is much better than it was even just an hour ago.

Tiger Woods score: Par | +1

Hole 18 | Par 4, 465 yards

Woods' drive stayed in the fairway on the final hole, but his right foot had to be in the bunker on his approach — which resulted in a very awkward shot that rolled into a greenside bunker as Woods was hopping to keep his balance.

Woods had to settle for a bogey to close out his day, which brought him to 2-over.

Hovland finished his round at 7-under to take the early lead, though Jon Rahm was right behind him when Hovland and Woods walked off the course.

Tiger Woods score: Bogey | +2