Tiger Woods Creating Some Masters Drama — Will He Play?

Phil Mickelson’s name may have been scrubbed from the 2022 Masters field but there’s one glaring name still there — Tiger Woods.

With but 11 days to the first round of the 2022 Masters, Tiger Woods is still on the list of players who will compete.

There are unconfirmed whispers that Woods was at Augusta National last week with caddie Joe LaCava.

Woods was also sighted the past few weeks at his home course — The Medalist in Hobe Sound — and he was walking and playing.  A video of Woods walking at The Medalist surfaced on Twitter but the video disappeared at some point.

At some point, sooner than later, Woods will actually have to show up and perhaps get in at least nine holes of practice here and there to check out the latest changes to Augusta National.

So now it’s a matter of wait and see.

Will he or won’t he?

Rookie Chad Ramey Wins Corales-Puntacana Championship:

While there was little-to-no Sunday afternoon drama at the WGC Match Play, the “Outlier Open” — aka Corales-Puntacana Championship, had its fair share.

Ben Martin, who has no Tour card and played on past champion’s status, started strong last week with rounds of 66-66 and after a Saturday 70, held the 54-hole lead.  Martin was in good shape on the final nine until rookie Chad Ramey, a Korn-Ferry Tour grad, went on a four-hole birdie run starting at the 13th.

Those birdies got Ramey to 17-under par with the tough par three 17 and par four 18th to play.  A nice tee shot produced an easy two-putt par at 17 but at 18, Ramey had to take the short-hitter’s route over the water and left himself with 218 yards for his second.  On the other hand, Martin striped his drive, long and straight and left himself just 133 into the hole.

Ramey’s second got him on the putting surface, about 40 feet away but Martin looked like he’d send things to a playoff.  He stuck his second within six feet of the cup for a potential tying birdie.

Ramey, who started the final round two shots behind Martin, took care of business and lagged to inside three feet then waited to see what Martin would do.

The moment was too much for Martin.  He pulled his putt left of the hole and Ramey secured his Tour card for the next two years.  He also gained a spot in the PGA Championship, the 2023 Tournament of Champions and the 2023 Players.

“I think it will take maybe a day or two to sink in,” Ramey said after finishing with 67. “Everything’s pretty surreal, happening pretty fast, but I’m definitely excited.”

Corales Puntacana Scoreboard