AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The last of the morning spring chill, murder on Tiger Woods' aching, reconstructed leg, burned off as he started his round at the Masters. It felt nice in the shade here at Augusta National. Huge crowds ringed the entirety of the first hole. There might as well have been no one else playing.
Everything stopped at 11:04 a.m. ET on Thursday to watch Woods. Tournament employees abandoned their stations and rushed towards the ropes, as the major problem with professional golf came once more into focus: The most interesting thing in the sport isn't the current stars showcasing their skills but whether a 46-year-old man can even walk around the course.