Anticipation leading up to the Masters revved up by 50 points when Tiger's name turned up on the entry list a few days ago. He has since claimed that his Saturday participation is on a "game-day" decision basis, but you won't find anybody who believes he won't be playing on Thursday. 

    Tiger earned the green jacket five times - in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019, and, aside from other recent winners, there are a bunch of his elders who won it long ago and will be there to face him. They include: Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, 1999); Vijay Singh (2000); Freddy Couples (1992); Bernhard Langer (1985, 1993); Sandy Lyle (1988) and Larry Mize (1987). Shows how much these guys love it in Augusta. (For the record, I was there for the Saturday round in '97 and followed Tiger for four hours as he scooted away from the field). 

    Ocala's Louis Oosthuizen is in the field, along with Gator Billy Horschel and Seminoles Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka. Louis tied for 26th last year with rounds of 76-70-72-71-289, 1 over par. Hideki Matsuyama is the defender - he won by one stroke over Will Zalatoris, despite posting a 1-over 73 on Sunday. 

    

    

    

 

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