Tiger Woods chips in for eagle, electrifies Augusta National on Masters Monday

Tiger Woods chipped in for eagle at Augusta National and, judging by the roars of approval from the throngs of patrons following the winner of four green jackets, a casual observer could be forgiven for wondering if golf’s most pivotal player had just captured a fifth blazer.

Except for the fact that it was just the second hole, on Monday and not Sunday, and Woods was only playing a practice round — his first Masters Monday practice round since 2015.

Woods may have lost his spot as the oddsmakers’ favorite to capture the 15th major title of his illustrious career (he’s at 12/1, behind just Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy, all at 10/1 at Golfodds.com). Just don’t tell that to the crush of folks stacked 10 or more deep around the guy everyone — love him or hate him — wants to see this week in the men’s first major of the season.

The spectators are not the only ones excited to witness Woods’ hit a tee shot in Masters competition for the first time in 1,086 days. Tiger, himself, noted last week how psyched he was to get back to the course, where he last won in 2005, as a competitor and not just a dinner companion.

“It’s been tough just going to the [Champions Dinner],” Woods said on his webpage on Friday about arriving at Augusta as a non-participant the past two years. “I’m just really looking forward to playing. It’s the best run tournament in the world. The golf course, the patrons, the entire atmosphere. It’s a golfer’s heaven.”

Woods, of course, returned in February to the PGA Tour after undergoing the fourth of four back surgeries since March 2014 and proceeded to rack up two top-five finishes in his last two events. “Quite a shift,” as he observed, from six months ago when he was not even considering playing.

“I got a second chance on life,” Woods said, referring to the spinal back fusion surgery he had a year ago. “I am a walking miracle.”

Woods played Augusta last week for the first time since he shot a 73 in the final round of the 2015 tilt. Now it’s Masters Week and Tiger, who has sought recently to temper expectations about his play, appeared to be back to the old Eldrick.

“I’m just there to win,” he said.

Anyone within earshot of hole No. 1 on Monday might have surmised he had already done so.