2019 Masters Recap: A Magical Return for Tiger Woods
Fourteen years had passed since Tiger Woods had put on the fabled Green Jacket at Augusta National Golf Club. It was fair to wonder if the greatest golfer of this…
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 14: Patrons cheer as Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates his birdie on the 16th green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesFourteen years had passed since Tiger Woods had put on the fabled Green Jacket at Augusta National Golf Club. It was fair to wonder if the greatest golfer of this - and probably any - generation would ever be a Masters champion again.
But a strong, if not spectacular, final round on April 14, 2019 saw the now five-time Masters champion return to his glory days, winning in come-from-behind fashion. While the final nine holes of the tournament were strong for Woods, it was his play on Friday and Saturday that set him up for the championship. Let's take a look at how it all played out:
Round 1
Brooks Koepka started the 2019 edition of the Masters off strong. One of the world's top golfers, Koepka fired a 66, joining Bryson DeChambeau at the top of the leaderboard on Thursday night. Koepka was coming off wins at the PGA Championship and US Open. And DeChambeau was hot, closing the round with six birdies on the final seven holes. Phil Mickelson was one shot back after a 67. Tiger, meanwhile, was four shots back in 11th place, after an opening-round 70.
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
| T1 | Bryson DeChambeau |  United States | 66 | −6 |
| Brooks Koepka | United States | |||
| 3 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 67 | −5 |
| T4 | Dustin Johnson | United States | 68 | −4 |
| Ian Poulter |  England | |||
| T6 | Kiradech Aphibarnrat |  Thailand | 69 | −3 |
| Justin Harding |  South Africa | |||
| Kevin Kisner | United States | |||
| Jon Rahm |  Spain | |||
| Adam Scott |  Australia |
Round 2
A wild second day ended with five different golfers - all of which had won a Major at some point in their career - tied atop the leaderboard with 7-under 137 scores. Koepka had company from Jason Day, Francesco Molinari, Louis Oosthizen and Adam Scott. Four more golfers were just one shot back at 6-under, including Woods and the No. 2 golfer in the world - Dustin Johnson. Woods vaulted up after a 68.
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
| T1 | Jason Day | Australia | 70-67=137 | −7 |
| Brooks Koepka | United States | 66-71=137 | ||
| Francesco Molinari |  Italy | 70-67=137 | ||
| Louis Oosthuizen | South Africa | 71-66=137 | ||
| Adam Scott | Australia | 69-68=137 | ||
| T6 | Justin Harding | South Africa | 69-69=138 | −6 |
| Dustin Johnson | United States | 68-70=138 | ||
| Xander Schauffele | United States | 73-65=138 | ||
| Tiger Woods | United States | 70-68=138 | ||
| T10 | Ian Poulter | England | 68-71=139 | −5 |
| Jon Rahm | Spain | 69-70=139 |
Round 3
A strong 66 on moving day saw Molinari vault to a 2-shot lead after the third round. Notably, 65 players made the cut to the weekend, a Masters record, and a sign of how the calm weather was keeping scores very low.
Tony Finau and Woods ended the round just two shots back of Molinari. Finau, Webb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay all shot 64 in the third round. That's never happened at the Masters.
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
| 1 | Francesco Molinari | Italy | 70-67-66=203 | −13 |
| T2 | Tony Finau | United States | 71-70-64=205 | −11 |
| Tiger Woods | United States | 70-68-67=205 | ||
| 4 | Brooks Koepka | United States | 66-71-69=206 | −10 |
| T5 | Ian Poulter | England | 68-71-68=207 | −9 |
| Webb Simpson | United States | 72-71-64=207 | ||
| T7 | Justin Harding | South Africa | 69-69-70=208 | −8 |
| Dustin Johnson | United States | 68-70-70=208 | ||
| Matt Kuchar | United States | 71-69-68=208 | ||
| Louis Oosthuizen | South Africa | 71-66-71=208 | ||
| Xander Schauffele | United States | 73-65-70=208 |
Round 4
Looming thunderstorms led to a frantic early start to the final round, and led to players being sent out in groups of three instead of the traditional weekend twosomes. Molinari appeared to be on his way to a Green Jacket, but his tee shot on 12 went into Rae's Creek. That was the beginning of the end of Molinari, and gave Tiger a spark. Woods took a one-shot lead after a birdie on the 15th hole, and never looked back, winning his 15th Major championship - but for the first time after trailing after 54 holes.
| Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
| 1 | Tiger Woods (c) | United States | 70-68-67-70=275 | −13 | 2,070,000 |
| T2 | Dustin Johnson | United States | 68-70-70-68=276 | −12 | 858,667 |
| Brooks Koepka | United States | 66-71-69-70=276 | |||
| Xander Schauffele | United States | 73-65-70-68=276 | |||
| T5 | Jason Day | Australia | 70-67-73-67=277 | −11 | 403,938 |
| Tony Finau | United States | 71-70-64-72=277 | |||
| Francesco Molinari | Italy | 70-67-66-74=277 | |||
| Webb Simpson | United States | 72-71-64-70=277 | |||
| T9 | Patrick Cantlay | United States | 73-73-64-68=278 | −10 | 310,500 |
| Rickie Fowler | United States | 70-71-68-69=278 | |||
| Jon Rahm | Spain | 69-70-71-68=278 |
2019 Masters Tournament Gallery
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods (L) of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Three
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Tiger Woods of the United States reacts on the 18th green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Final Round
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesAUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Patrons cheer as Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates his birdie on the 16th green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia.
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods of the United States walks the sixth hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round One
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Tiger Woods of the United States putts on the 13th green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Two
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Francesco Molinari of Italy plays a shot on the 13th hole during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Francesco Molinari of Italy plays a shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Three
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Tony Finau of the United States fist bumps caddie Gregory Bodine on the 18th green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round One
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Justin Harding of South Africa plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Two
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Tyrrell Hatton of England reacts to a putt on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Preview Day 3
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Rickie Fowler of the United States plays a shot on the 10th hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Two
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Tiger Woods of the United States stretches on the 13th hole during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Two
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Brooks Koepka at The Masters
(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Brooks Koepka of the United States crosses the Sarazen Bridge on the 15th hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Three
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Francesco Molinari of Italy high fives patrons as he walks off the 18th green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Two
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Jason Day of Australia acknowledges patrons on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Two
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland jumps across Rae's Creek on the 13th hole during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Francesco Molinari of Italy plays a shot from a bunker on the eighth hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round One
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: A gallery of patrons look on while Tiger Woods of the United States walks across the 16th green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates with his son Charlie Axel as he comes off the 18th hole in honor of his win during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Final Round
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods of the United States plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Masters - Round Three
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: A general view as Tiger Woods of the United States stands on the 16th green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
