Eclipse can’t stop Masters stars from shining in practice

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AUGUSTA – Not even an eclipse could prevent golf’s top stars from shining in Monday’s practice round for the 88th Masters, with Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods exciting spectators at Augusta National.
World number one Scheffler and 15-time major winner Woods were available for stargazing for those who weren’t looking to the cloudless afternoon sky for 76% moon shading of the sun.
Scheffler, an oddsmakers darling seeking his second green jacket in three seasons, played alongside US amateur Stewart Hagestad, stopping with help to look at the eclipse through specially prepared Masters eclipse glasses.
“Just to have the little girl come over with the glasses and to be like, ‘Hey, check out the eclipse,’ that’s neat,” Hagestad said. “I certainly didn’t make her day but hopefully Scottie did. That stuff is really cool.”
Scheffler, the 2022 winner, could match Woods as the only player to win the Masters twice while atop the world rankings.
Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour titles are level with Sam Snead for the all-time record, is making a comeback after right ankle surgery last April. He played alongside Will Zalatoris on the back nine when the sun had barely risen.
“He played great today,” Zalatoris said. “He outdrove me a couple times so there was some chirping going on. He looks great. He’s moving as well as he can be.
“With everything he has gone through, it’s pretty amazing to see how good he’s swinging it.”
The 48-year-old legend, still struggling to walk after severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash, hopes to make his 24th consecutive Masters cut and break the tournament record he shares with Gary Player and Fred Couples.
Five-time Masters winner Woods, whose most recent major title came at the 2019 Masters, withdrew last year after making the cut due to plantar fasciitis. He withdrew from his PGA return at Riviera in February after one round due to illness.