DUBLIN, Ohio – Zero paying fans watched Tiger Woods play golf in person on Thursday, but he was hardly alone.
Surrounding the first tee at Muirfield Village were 19 carts, a dozen reporters, seven cameramen and three photographers. There were security guards and volunteers and a few curious vendors who had wandered outside during a break. Six Tour types in shirts and ties huddled under a tent. On the adjacent practice putting green his peers paused their preparation to watch: Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner, Corey Conners and Nick Taylor. Some caddies, too.
At 1:17 p.m., an official pulled down his face mask for an announcement:
"Next to play, Tiger Woods!