AUGUSTA, Ga. — The purple coloration of his shirt was the solely reminder of a lot of his previous Sundays at the Masters. It was round 1:30 p.m. ET at the Augusta National Golf Club and the eventual winner, Scottie Scheffler, was nonetheless an hour away from beginning his closing spherical.

But right here was Tiger Woods, who was accustomed to taking part in late on Sunday afternoons, ending his day with a 5-over par 77 to complete in final place amongst the 60 gamers who made the 36-hole reduce.

On Saturday, the five-time Masters winner — saddled with again ache — shot an 82 for his worst spherical in 26 appearances in golf’s first main of the yr. Yet he was decided to complete the event. Only Woods may draw a such an enormous gallery, the place the patrons hadn’t come to see him compete for the inexperienced jacket, as a lot to have fun what he had been when he was the greatest golfer on earth.

As he made his approach up the 18th gap on Sunday, the patrons swelled round the inexperienced, forming an amphitheater for maybe this nice participant’s final scene on this grand stage.

The 15-time main winner has by no means regarded worse in a storied profession mired with accidents. In Saturday’s third spherical, Woods hit simply eight greens on his solution to two double bogeys, eight bogeys and two birdies. It was extra of the identical on Sunday. After making a birdie at the par 5 second gap, he went six over for his subsequent 16 holes and had only one birdie in the spherical.

Yet he declared the week a hit, exhibiting a defiance and optimism for a taking part in profession with bleak prospects for the future.

“It was a good week all around,” he stated. “I think that coming in here, not having played a full tournament in a very long time, it was a good fight on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, yesterday it didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to.”

Woods is set, if not maybe a tad delusional, to imagine that he nonetheless has what it takes over 72 holes to win a significant championship or any event. But few athletes in any sport have proven as a lot dedication as he has to overcoming adversity to return to the winner’s circle.

On Sunday morning, Woods rose at 3:45 a.m. to undergo the remedies to get his physique ready for his 9:35 a.m. tee time. Where as soon as he set the customary for excellence on the course, inflicting gamers to tremble with worry in his presence, he’s now nearly pitied by opponents, whilst they revere him as a god in the sport.

“I don’t think anyone wants to catch Tiger at his best,” stated Neal Shipley, a 23-year-old novice who performed with Woods on Sunday. “No one is going to win when he’s playing his best. Certainly rooting for him and rooting for good golf shots. I really appreciate all the work that he does to keep his body ready to come out here. He’s really grinding and making a big commitment to be out here for everyone.”

Woods will let you know how exhausting he’s working. It’s his nature each to do the work and discuss it. These days, he’s doing extra coaching than taking part in aggressive golf. On Sunday afternoon, he repeated his mantra: “keep the motor going, keep the body moving, keep getting stronger, keep progressing.”

But to what finish will all this work serve for his future as a critical challenger in main championships?

Coming into the Masters, many in the golf world had been hoping that Woods’ physique may stand up to Augusta National’s hills for 4 days. On Sunday afternoon, there was a sigh of aid on the faces of many in the gallery when he walked up the 18th gap. It was a aid that was additionally on his face. He couldn’t be glad by his play, however the vicissitudes of life have taught the 48-year-old to be grateful over extra modest beneficial properties like a pain-free day and easily finishing a event.

By the time he completed signing his scorecard, Woods was already wanting towards the the rest of the yr’s main championship schedule. In May, the PGA Championship will likely be held at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2000 at Valhalla, Woods beat Bob May in a three-hole playoff for his second straight PGA Championship. That was the Woods who was in the midst of profitable 4 straight main championships.

He can’t be that participant once more and he is aware of it, however that doesn’t imply he’s not decided to get another shot at greatness.