The Masters: Tiger Woods through the years
Tiger Mania has gripped the Masters in a way that may make even his breakout 1997 victory, his 2001 Tiger Slam triumph and his 2010 return from personal scandal seem quaint. At 42, Woods appears healthy for the first time in years. He even came in second in a tournament last month. After years of being derailed with injuries, he’s a contender again.
This is the most anticipated Masters in a long time and while the storylines are everywhere, Woods is the main event. Part nostalgia, part hope, no one wants to miss a single bit of it.
U.S. Amateur Champion Tiger Woods, left, talks with Greg Norman, of Australia, on number two during practice for the 1995 Masters on the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 4, 1995. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
U.S. Amateur Champion Tiger Woods takes off a tiger woo cover as he loosens up on the practice tee during practice round at the Masters in Augusta, Ga., April 5, 1995. (AP Photo/Curtis Compton)
Tiger Woods follows his tee shot on number two during practice for the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, April 9, 1996. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Four-time Masters winner Arnold Palmer, left, six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus, center, and Tiger Woods watch from the 15th tee during practice for the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, April 10, 1996. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Tiger Woods stretches before his putt on the 18th green during second round Masters play at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday, April 11, 1997. Woods shot a 66 to take the lead in the trounament. (AP Photo/ Curtis Compton)
1997 Masters champion Tiger Woods celebrates as he leaves the 18th green after winning the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 13, 1997. (AP Photo/ Dave Martin)
Masters champion Tiger Woods receives his Green Jacket from last year’s winner Nick Faldo, rear, at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 13, 1997. (AP Photo/ Dave Martin)
Masters champion Tiger Woods is engulfed by the gallery as he makes his way to the 18th after his second shot during final round play at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 13, 1997. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta )
1997 Masters Champion Tiger Woods, left, from Orlando, Fla., talks with U.S. Amateur Champion Hank Kuehne on the firts tee at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, April 6, 1999, during practice for the 1999 Masters. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Four-time Masters Champion Arnold Palmer, left, greets defending Masters champion Tiger Woods, right, before teeing off for their practice rounds at for the 1998 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, April 7, 1988. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Surrounded by the gallery, defending Masters champion Tiger Woods drives off of the 18th tee during the final day of practice for the 1998 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, April 8, 1998. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus strike a pose as they wait to tee off on the second hole during the first round of the PGA Championship, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000, at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Tiger Woods, left, receives his Masters green jacket from last year’s champion Vijay Singh, of Fiji, at a ceremony after winning the 2001 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 8, 2001. Woods captured this second Masters title, defeating David Duval by two strokes. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Tiger Woods reacts on the 18th hole after winning the 2001 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 8, 2001. Woods captured this second Masters title, defeating David Duval by two strokes. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Defending Masters champion Tiger Woods tosses his golf ball to the gallery gathered at the 9th hole after finishing the Par 3 Contest at the Augusta National Golf Club Wednesday, April 10, 2002, in Augusta, Ga. First round play of the 2002 Masters begins on Thursday. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)
Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 13th hole during third round play of the 2002 Masters Saturday, April 13, 2002, at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tiger Woods, left, adjusts the 2002 Masters Green Jacket he received from Augusta National Golf Club chairman William W.”Hootie” Johnson, as Johnson applauds at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, two people with knowledge of his plans have told The Associated Press on Thursday, march 11, 2010. The two people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because only Woods is supposed to release such information, say he is likely to play first at Augusta National in April. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)
Defending champion Tiger Woods contemplates his shot before hitting from the bunker on the 2nd hole during first round play of the 2003 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday, April 11, 2003. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Tiger Woods checks his shot after getting in trouble on the third hole during final round play of the 2003 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 13, 2003. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
2002 champion Tiger Woods, right, helps Mike Weir don the traditional green jacket after the Canadian won the 2003 Masters, at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 13, 2003. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Tiger Woods emerges from the bushes after hitting himself out on the fifth fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Thursday, April 8, 2004. Woods double bogeyed the fifth hole. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods, right, gets the Green Jacket from Phil Mickelson, left, after winning the 2005 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 10, 2005. This is Woods’ foruth Masters victory. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Phil Mickelson, right, gets his Masters Green Jacket from last years champion Tiger Woods after winning the 2006 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Tiger Woods smiles on the putting green during practice for the 2007 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, April 4, 2007. First round play begins on Thursday. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tiger Woods tips his cap on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2007 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Tiger Woods and his caddie Steve Williams discuss a shot during the third round of the 2008 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Saturday, April 12, 2008. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods speaks to the media during a news conference at the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, April 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tiger Woods, center, is escorted by security personnel as he heads to his practice round for the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday, April 8, 2009. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods walks down the 18th fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Thursday, April 9, 2009. Woods finished the round with a two-under par. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods during the final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson during the final round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Spectators take photos as Tiger Woods walks down the sixth fairway during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., Monday, April 5, 2010. The tournament begins Thursday, April, 8. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods, third right, walks down the first fairway during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., Monday, April 5, 2010. The tournament begins Thursday, April, 8. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods nearly falls backwards after hitting out of the rough on the 17th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 9, 2011, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tiger Woods is congratulated by caddie Steve Williams after his the final round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 10, 2011, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods walks down the second fairway during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods hits off the first fairway during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tiger Woods waits to hit off the first fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Tiger Woods waits to putt on the 18th green during the fourth round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 14, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods points to his shot on the eighth fairway during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)