Tiger Woods arrived without warning on a lazy Sunday afternoon at the Masters. He offered a playful jab when he greeted two reporters he had not seen in five months, acting as though nothing had changed. He then strolled onto the new practice facility at Augusta National and stopped to chat with Paul Casey. “It's where I'm used to seeing him,” Casey said, choosing to keep their conversation private. “All of a sudden he appeared behind me. He was all business as usual - hit 10 balls and go play.” This Masters figures to be anything but that. Woods has not been seen in public, except for a few chosen media, since his middle-of-the-night car accident Nov. 27 that set off explosive revelations of a sordid life hardly anyone knew existed. More than a four-time Masters champion and the No. 1 player in golf, he is famous worldwide for a sex scandal that has made him a regular in tabloids. He is to speak Monday afternoon at a news conference of such interest that the club has limited seating to one reporter for each news outlet, with only a few exceptions. Most of the players have not seen him since he won the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, or played in Shanghai the week before. Jim Furyk had not seen him since they celebrated a Presidents Cup victory on Oct. 11. They spoke for about five minutes on the practice green with Furyk's father. “He's probably here a little earlier than normal,” Furyk said. “I've never seen him here on a Sunday. Generally, it's nice to have him back and I can't wait until he's out here and I don't have to answer any more questions about him.” Sunday at Augusta National is likely to be as quiet as it will get all week for Woods. The course is closed except to employees, media and members. It is the only major championship where Augusta National members play alongside the best in the world, and past champions are allowed to bring a guest. Reporters and photographers are not allowed on the golf course, and it wasn't long before Woods vanished down the steep hill of the 10th fairway and toward Amen Corner at the far reaches of Augusta National. It was warm and bright, and it was rare to see Woods hitting balls with sunglasses on. The gates open at 8 A.M. Monday, and the course will come to life with more than 30,000 fans. The attention is on Woods because of his golf. He now has given everyone other reasons to watch.
