It was not the conclusion Woods envisioned when he willed himself to make an improbable return to elite competitive golf less than five months after declaring his days as a top player all but over. But Woods emphatically does not view his four-day score at this year’s tournament as the measure of his appearance.
After Thursday’s first round, Woods, who for a quarter-century has been renowned for saying that his only goal at any competition is to win it, was asked if just showing up at Augusta National was a victory.
“Absolutely,” he answered. “Absolutely yes.”
It was a revealing confession for Woods, but it elucidates the image of him slowly ascending the hilly terrain on Sunday, often wincing. He finished nowhere near the leaders, but he finished nonetheless.
After his final round, Woods said he was grateful, after all he has been through, to have played this year at the tournament he has won five times, and that continued to mean so much to him. He said the week was his greatest achievement for a tournament that he did not win.
“The people who are close to me understand, they have seen it,” Woods said. “Some of the players who are close to me have seen it, and have seen some of the pictures and the things that I’ve had to endure, and they appreciate it probably more than than anyone else. Because they know what it takes to to do this out here at this level.”
He added: “It’s been it’s been a tough road and you know, one I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to grind through a lot of different things could have happened. But in 14 months, I’m able to tee it up and play in the Masters.”