Tiger gets sinking feeling

TIGER Woods entered into the spirit of Monday at the Masters yesterday – but he will hope to be more successful when the tournament starts.

The opening major of the golf season is full of its own traditions. A green jacket for the winner, a par-3 competition on the eve of the event and an annual champions dinner are just three of them. The players are also encouraged by the crowd to try to hit the green at the short 16th not by normal means, but by skimming balls across the lake.

Woods and 1998 champion Mark O’Meara were amongst the first to try, but they both failed to make it back on to dry land and decided not to give it another go. As is his custom, the four-time winner was out early and, having played the course on Sunday as well, limited himself to just the back nine before heading into the Augusta National clubhouse.

He did not stop to speak to waiting media – his formal press conference is today – but there were words from him on his website. Not about the Masters or his recent win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but about an appeal he is launching.

“Hi guys. I’m working on a cool project with my Foundation and I’m hoping you can help,” Woods said. “I’m asking all of you to join me on Facebook and help send ten deserving young kids to college through our Earl Woods Scholarship Program. My dad always taught me the importance of an education. There are a lot of extremely bright kids out there who can’t afford college and we’re trying to help them get there.”