Tiger Woods is not at Augusta this week, yet Tiger Woods is everywhere this week

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fans will still point and think, remember and dream. There was a strong stream throughout Monday afternoon’s practice round at the Masters, to take care of the low Augusta National turf behind the 16th green.

Twenty-one years ago, Tiger Woods made it famous by missing the last chip on the green slope, before watching his Nike-swoosh-emblazoned ball roll slowly, slowly and slowly into the sport’s “in your life” doctrine. After a few holes, in the playoff, Woods won his fourth green jacket (of fifth) and ninth major championship (of 15).

It’s one of the greatest shots in the history of Tiger, of the Masters, of golf itself.

“You see it on TV, but you don’t get here and see it [slope] on the green, you won’t appreciate it,” said Mike Schuessler of Bowling Green, Ohio, here with his wife, Donna.

“Just trying to shoot, just seeing is amazing [by Woods],” marveled Jim Unger of Milan, Ohio, taking a date with his wife, Kelly. “He hits it from the hole.”

Tiger Woods is absent this week, yet Tiger Woods is everywhere this week.

Such is the encounter with Woods, who is apparently in rehab somewhere, looking for answers to his recent problems and legal troubles that range from getting into a speeding SUV again while, the police argue, driving into something.

Perhaps half of everything goes back to this place in 2005. It’s no excuse, because there is no excuse for Tiger Woods, especially his emphasis on driving. No one plays that down.

But part of the explanation for how Tiger’s self-destructive ways continue — is that no amount of fame and fortune has satisfied him. Yet despite his antics, his followers remain loyal and still seek out the ghosts of the miracle gun of the past.

No Augusta National with Tiger Woods open. This course gave Woods a canvas for the year to paint historic works of art. Woods, on the other hand, gave the club that was stuck in its path a cool blast that forced it to modernize everything from its membership to its business operations.

Marriage was difficult at times; Augusta once publicly admitted that he is trying to “Tiger proof” the course, lest he win again and again. However, in the end they depend on each other. The Masters, like all golf, grew and became bigger with Tiger as its magnetic star, while Woods described the tournament as a great achievement in the good times, and a goal to come back from the bad. Everything can be cleaned here.

In 2019, he won the event again, at the age of 43, 14 behind that chip, full of visible and hidden scars, many of which were fake. A great celebration began among these Georgia pines; the rebirth of a legend.

For Tiger, when it was all about golf and only golf, life had never been better, especially here.

That 2005 chip was the perfect blend of Tiger’s muscular skill set, relentless work ethic and unearthly ability to use space and speed to solve geology and gravity.

It gave a shot of adrenaline to a game often derided for encouraging sleep, ushered in a new generation of players and a steady flurry of corporate investment (wanting to replicate that dangling Nike logo) that made everyone in golf rich.

However, after the ball was dropped, Tiger was back working with someone, this time, his trainer, Steve Williams. The two are traumatized by the couple’s high fives, which is a serious game of celebrating high fives against the athlete that just happened.

Tiger is a loner who lives a life of attention and expectation where even an outsider can find it difficult.

A child star and product of a huge marketing machine, he tried to keep his personal life hidden. Live in mansions in gated communities. He bought boats and named them “Privacy” and “Loneliness.”

Sometimes, you can’t blame him. He’s been burned by many confidants and coaches and tell-all books, but a double life has made every mistake even bigger.

This latest car crash begged a familiar question: Why doesn’t Tiger have a full-time driver, especially in his struggle with drug abuse? The answer, reportedly, is that he wants privacy (although a non-disclosure agreement can solve much of that) and independence.

It’s selfish and reckless and dangerous, but it comes back to a simple idea: While he excels at golf, everything else is a struggle.

He roars from afar but never looks comfortable just being Tiger Woods. Masters champions have spent their entire lives in this tournament, so it is common for the old masters to still be playing, fueled by yesterday’s excitement even though they have been competing for a long time.

Woods seems to enjoy such events. He always thinks that he can win it, he must win it, he must win it. He’s 50 now, seven years, two major car crashes and inexplicable surgeries since his unexpected victory, yet he trains and talks like he’s still growing.

He needs everything — always — to fuel the rivalry that built and toppled his empire.

More practice. More surgery. More painkillers.

More different relationships, car flips and cup shots.

He can’t seem to be just himself, even if few expect or want anything more from him.

“I didn’t care about Tiger’s golf,” Bubba Watson said Monday. “I said [Tiger] from the first day … that I am attracted to him as a person. I hope he can come back strong.”

Until then, fans longing for another chance to see their hero are left streaming grainy YouTube clips or gathering around the turf to reminisce about the good old pictures.

“He’s part of the history of Augusta National,” Mike Schuessler said after the 16th green. “But the fans want to see him fix his life. Golf is second.”

Tiger Woods is not here at Augusta. Tiger Woods is always here at Augusta.