Tiger Woods has dominated pre-tournament headlines despite not featuring at The Masters, with many of those in action at Augusta National offering mixed views on his absence and struggles.
Woods was working towards making another competitive comeback, having undergone multiple back surgeries and an operation on his Achilles since last featuring in a major in July 2024, when he was involved in a car crash on March 27.
The former world No 1 after being charged with driving under the influence (DUI), taking the case to a jury trial, then announced to seek treatment and focus on his health.
The PGA Tour and Masters chairman Fred Ridley were among those to send messages of support to Woods, who is now missing the opening major of the year for a second successive year, while former Jason Day admitted that it's "difficult" to see his "hero" go through struggles.
"He's not immune to it [struggles] just because he can hit a golf ball really well," Day said in his pre-tournament press conference. "He's had 25 to 30-something surgeries. When you're going through that many procedures, it's painful coming out of those procedures.
"He's my hero. He was my hero growing up. The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger. It's hard to see him go through what he's going through - especially under the microscope. It must be hard to be who he is and have everything, everyone look on, kind of down on him.
"Some people want him to fail. Some people obviously want him to succeed. It's really difficult for me to go through that and watch him, and I know that he's getting the help now, which is good. I'm just hoping he comes out on the other side and is better."
Day added: "People out here do support him and want him to kind of get through this. It must be tough to be isolated the way he is normally. He stays at home pretty much most of the time, doesn't really get out too much just because of how popular he is as a person.
"When you're at home, it's just difficult. Sometimes you don't have people around, loving people around enough to be able to steer you in the direction that you need to.
"He's human and we all make mistakes - that's just part of learning and getting better. I'm hoping that he gets the help that he needs and that he comes out stronger and better on the other side because golf misses him."
This year's tournament marks the first time since 1994 that both Woods and Phil Mickelson are missing from The Masters, with the latter withdrawing due to .
"Everyone is probably in the same boat, that they're just very grateful that he [Woods] is okay and that everyone else that was involved is okay," 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed explained. "Hopefully he's able to get a speedy recovery and get back here to golf as fast as he can.
"Let's be honest, without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the events, when they both step away, honestly I feel it hurts the game of golf. At the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go."
Former world No 1 Justin Rose added: "They [Mickelson and Woods] have both been obviously titans of the game for the last three decades. Clearly in a tournament like this, if you're a past champion, you get an opportunity to come back.
"Whether they're 1,000 or 500 in the world or whatever current rankings may be, their stature is way more elevated than that in the game of golf and always will be. It's always a loss to not have either of them in a field anywhere."
Woods has only played in 11 official tournaments since the end of November 2020 and completed 72 holes in just four of them, most recently when he finished last of those who made the cut at The Masters in 2024.
The 50-year-old has suffered multiple injury and life setbacks during his career and has set no target over his next possible comeback, something many on the PGA Tour player hopes to see happen.
"He's such a legend in this game, somebody I looked up to," Harris English said about Woods. "Watching him win around this place in 1997 is kind of the reason I started getting into golf.
"I know he's going to get through this. He has a big fight ahead of him. He's a fighter. That's what he does. He's going to get through it and come out a better man and a better person. We hope to see him soon."
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson added: "I couldn't care less about his [Woods'] golf. Anybody that's struggling with anything, I feel for him because I've gone through a lot of mental stuff. So yeah, I always pull for him.
"Nothing but love for him, and hopefully he can come back stronger."
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