Couples, Watson, Woods Create Memories at Augusta

The primary storyline for day one of the 2010 Masters was bound to be the return of the world's number one player, Tiger Woods. How would he fare after a 144-day layoff? Would his game show signs of rust? Could he play well enough to be in contention on Sunday?

However, Woods was in the next-to-last group to tee off on Thursday at Augusta, so there was plenty of time for other stories to develop. And boy, did they develop.

First, it was 60-year-old Tom Watson shooting a 5-under par 67, tying his best round ever at Augusta National and grabbing the lead. After nearly winning the British Open at Turnberry, Watson is once again in contention at a major on the young guys' tour.

But later in the day, Watson was done one better by fellow Champions Tour player Fred Couples, who shot a 6-under par 66, good enough for the lead after round one. In the process, Couples became the oldest player to lead the Masters after the first round.

And finally, at 1:42 ET, Woods hit his tee shot on the first hole, and his round was underway. Woods put together a 4-under par 68, his best-ever first round score in the Masters. He also recorded a pair of eagles, at No. 8 and No. 15, the first time he'd ever had multiple eagles in a Masters round.

The "patrons", as the gallery is called at Augusta, could not have been more supportive of Woods. He got a wonderful ovation on the first tee, and the crowds were cheering for him on nearly every hole.

The leaderboard is littered with big names. Couples leads the way, and is followed by a group of six golfers at 5-under par. In that group are Watson, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Y.E. Yang and K.J. Choi. Among those at 4-under par are Woods, Anthony Kim, Ian Poulter, Nick Watney and Ricky Barnes.

It was a good day for players over 50. In addition to the stellar rounds by Couples and Watson, Sandy Lyle shot 3-under par 69, while Bernhard Langer shot 71.

2010 Masters Preview

The most magical of golf's four majors gets underway on Thursday when PGA Tour pros tee it up at Augusta National for the 2010 Masters.

The story of the week, without question, is the return of the world's top player, Tiger Woods, who hasn't played in 144 days while dealing with a sex scandal that rocked the golf world. Woods is sure to be rusty upon returning to the tour, but he is perhaps the greatest player ever, and even when he doesn't have his "A"-game, Woods could still make some noise.

Here's a look at the top 10 contenders to win this season's first major, and the coveted green jacket.

1. Tiger Woods - Never count him out. He's won here four times, although none since 2005. If he's in the hunt on the weekend, nearly everyone will be watching.

2. Ernie Els - The South African has won twice already this season, and appears to be back on top of his game. The Big Easy has played well before at Augusta, and seeing him near the top of the leaderboard this week will not be a surprise.

3. Phil Mickelson - The 2004 and 2006 Masters champion, Mickelson has been plagued this season by bad rounds. One awful round has taken him out of contention in two of his last three outings. But Lefty loves this course, because he can be agressive with his driver and let his short game make up for any mistakes.

4. Padraig Harrington - Many seem to forget about Harrington, who has won three majors in his career. Harrington has been playing well lately, and he's a clutch player who, if in contention on Sunday, has shown that he can close the deal.

5. Retief Goosen - Like his fellow countryman Els, Goosen has also been resurgent this season. He has made six cuts in seven events, and has five top 10s. The former U.S. Open champ should be in the mix this week.

6. Lee Westwood - Westwood has played well lately in majors, finishing third in last season's British Open and PGA. He's off to a fast start this year as well, and has played well at Augusta in the past.

7. Jim Furyk - After winning earlier this season, Furyk has proven he's got his game back. He certainly knows the Augusta National layout, and has finished in the top 35 there for five straight years.

8. Mike Weir - The Canadian lefty won at Augusta in 2003, and he's off to a great start in 2010. It would not be a surprise to see him in contention on Sunday.

9. Chad Campbell - The Texan was a part of the three-man playoff last year, but was eliminated on the first hole by eventual winner Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry. Campbell has played well thus far in 2010, and could be back near the leaders in this event.

10. Steve Stricker - At the end of last season, Stricker was one of the best players on the tour. He's continued that momentum this year, although he didn't play well at Bay Hill. Stricker has a ton of experience, although he's never won a major.

Monday Brings Multiple Huge Stories

Monday, April 5 could be one of the biggest days of sports news ever. Simply put. There are a plethora of gigantic stories taking place on this first Monday of the month.

First, the Major League Baseball season really gets underway today, after Sunday's opening game. For many people, the beginning of baseball marks the start of Spring. Every team, even my beloved Cincinnati Reds, has hope for the new season on Opening Day.

The NCAA Mens' Basketball National Championship Game is also tonight, pitting the Cinderella Butler Bulldogs against the powerhouse Duke Blue Devils. Can the Bulldogs pull off a "Hoosiers"-type upset in their own backyard?

What could be the most interesting story of the day is Tiger Woods meeting a full throng of media for the first time since his sex scandal began shortly after Thanksgiving. Can the unflappable Tiger keep his cool in the face of some questions that he surely doesn't want to answer?

As if that weren't enough, late on Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles traded All-Pro quarterback Donovan McNabb within the division, sending him to Washington for a pair of draft picks.

Today has to be one of the biggest days for sports in a long time. It should be interesting.

Tiger's Return at Masters is a Stroke of Genius

There are reports from several media outlets today that Tiger Woods will return to the PGA Tour at one of his most successful stops, Augusta National, where he has won four green jackets.

This move makes quite a bit of sense. First, Woods has won at Augusta four times, although he hasn't won there since 2005 (perhaps due to the "Tiger-proofing" of the course).

Second, Woods has said throughout his career that his goal is to surpass Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships. Sitting out a major, particularly one where he has had quite a bit of success, would make little sense.

More importantly, with the tough ticket at Augusta, even for the media, Woods will face only the credentialed media that the Augusta National allows into the venue for the storied event. This will prevent the invasion of tabloid media, who would want to talk about Tiger's sex life rather than his golf.

Woods is now working with former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, who has become a sports "crisis management" expert since his days in Washington. The move to return at the Masters has Fleischer's name written all over it.

Woods has apologized for his alleged affairs, and now hopes to return to the world where he once was the king. It will be interesting to see how Woods is received upon his return. A man who was once beloved by most fans will most certainly face scrutiny upon his return to the tour. How he handles that will be another interesting facet of his return to competitve golf.

So prepare yourselves Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, etc. Tiger is coming back, and he's likely to be the Tiger of old.