Woods to play at Masters with Choi, Kuchar
Tiger Woods will play at the Masters in a group containing K.J. Choi of South Korea and Matt Kuchar of the United States.
Woods will tee off on Thursday at 1:42 p.m. (1742 GMT) in the penultimate group for the second straight year.
It will be the first time Woods has competed since a shocking sex scandal began to unfold in November.
Joining him for two days will be Kuchar, a popular figure in these parts from attending Georgia Tech, and Choi, who is sure to appeal to Augusta National's broadcast partners in Asia.
At any other tournament, playing with Woods could be a huge distraction because of so many photographers and reporters tagging along, and fans outside the ropes scrambling for a view.
Augusta National is different.
No one is allowed inside the ropes, and fans walk en masse - there's no running at the Masters.
``It's going to be a lot more at ease this week than most weeks,'' Woods said on Monday before he knew of his starting times. ``If there's one week that you would rather have a pairing with me, considering the circumstances, it would probably be this week.''
Choi sure didn't mind. He was hoping for it.
Despite some language barriers, they are comfortable playing together. Choi last played with Woods in the third round of the Memorial, which Woods went on to win. This will be his 13th time playing with Woods.
``Even when all this came out and the rumors of Tiger coming back, my friends were saying, 'Wouldn't it be cool if you were paired with Tiger when he played his first tournament?''' Choi said through his interpreter and agent, Michael Yim.
``It's funny because I sort of had a feeling when I left Dallas that it would be cool if I was paired with Tiger, and it happened. It's a good surprise.''
Choi found out on the 14th hole from a Masters official.
If it didn't sink in at the time, there were a dozen reporters waiting for him as he walked off the 18th green after his practice round. Choi can expect a lot more attention when he tees off on Thursday.
``I like playing with big crowds,'' Choi said. ``I will probably play more aggressive.''
The gallery following Woods during the first two days of practice this week has been enormous, not to mention polite. Woods has received ovations and the occasional ``Welcome back, Tiger,'' while playing with former champions Fred Couples on Monday and Mark O'Meara on Tuesday.
Choi expects that to continue.
``It's important that the gallery realize what's going on,'' he said. ``To take what happened outside the golf course and bring it inside the golf course, I don't think that's right. I believe they're educated and will respect the game of golf.''
Steve Stricker will be playing in the group ahead of Woods and doesn't expect any problems. At other tournaments, players have said that could be the toughest spot as photographers walk ahead to get into position.
``I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal,'' Stricker said. ``There's a lot of strict policies here. There's no running up and down the fairways. It's pretty calm. Typically, each green is loaded with people, anyway. It doesn't matter when you go out there. It's five people deep up at each green.
``I think if anywhere you want to be paired ahead of him, this would probably be it.''
In other groupings:
- Phil Mickelson is with Robert Allenby and U.S. PGA champion Y.E. Yang on the opposite end of the draw from Woods - a morning start on Thursday, and afternoon on Friday.
- Kenny Perry, 49, is older than both his playing partners combined - 28-year-old Camilo Villegas and 20-year-old Rory McIlroy.
- Bringing up the rear are Adam Scott, David Duval and Ricky Barnes. Duval and Barnes qualified by tying for second in the U.S. Open.