It's Tiger Woods Time at the Masters

Flying under the radar won't be difficult for any player not named Tiger Woods at this Masters Tournament.

With the main focus on Woods’ return to Augusta National Golf Club after being absent the past two years, top players such as defending champion Sergio Garcia, world No. 1 Dustin Johnson and PGA Tour Player of the Year Justin Thomas have had to give up top billing to the 42-year-old Woods.

“It’s all about him,” Marc Leishman said.

PHOTOS: Tiger's Monday Practice Round at Augusta

Woods, winless since a five-victory season in 2013 because of back ailments, is seeking his 80th PGA Tour win, 15th major and fifth Masters title this week.

“I think everyone’s kind of solely focused on Tiger and what he’s going to do here and seeing if he can get to No. 15 (in major victories),” Jason Day said.

Woods made his return Monday, playing the front nine with Thomas and Fred Couples. Woods didn’t speak to the media after the round.

“I think when it comes to Tiger and the Tigermania that comes with it, that everyone wants to see him win and play the way he did before,” Day said. “Everyone’s kind of chomping at the bit for him to kind of get here and see how he’s moving and everything.”

The lack of media attention for other top players gives them more time to concentrate on their games. It also can lower the external pressure of winning the year’s first major on them, and put it on Woods.

“He’s going to have some pressure on him, for sure,” Leishman said. “He’s been playing good and he loves this place. It’s nice to just be able to concentrate on your own thing and not have too much on you. And not too many expectations. I’m pretty happy with my situation where I can do normal things and nobody notices it.”

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, who has won two of his past four starts after going winless on the PGA Tour for two years, said Monday he hopes Woods and “everybody gets immediate attention and I just kind of sneak through the back nine roars there and somehow pull out a victory.”

Day echoed Watson's sentiments.

“That’s fine with us,” Day said of fewer media requests for his time. “That’s fine with me. I can just kind of focus on what I need to do to try and win this tournament. Tiger’s Tiger, but I think the biggest thing for me is I can’t beat myself. I think on my good day I’ve got a good chance of beating him. I honestly believe that. I think that there’s 10, 20 other guys out there that honestly believe they can beat Tiger as well at his best day as well now.”

Players understand the reason for all the talk about Tiger. Even Woods had doubts that he would ever return to the game after three back surgeries didn’t ease his pain. It was only after spinal fusion surgery just over a year ago that he gained relief. He didn’t play in his first tournament until December.

PHOTOS: Monday's Practice Round at the Masters

Last week on his website, Woods said he was a “walking miracle” and the successful surgery gave him a “second chance on life.”

Though Woods hasn’t won since his return, he has shot par-or-better in his past 10 PGA Tour rounds and gone from 656th in the world ranking at the end of 2017 to 103rd this week.

“He’s going to win at some point,” Rickie Fowler said. “I think that’s pretty clear to everyone with the way he’s played and continued to get better.”

Fowler said Woods is the “needle mover” in the sport and used the interview room at Augusta National Golf Club’s Press Building as an example. Fowler drew a small gathering of media. Woods will be in the room at 1 p.m. Tuesday, and Fowler said he knows the room will be packed.

“Tiger’s earned the attention,” Fowler said.

Masters Record