The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • A8

SATURDAY APRIL 9 2022 8AFACEBOOK.COM/THECHARLOTTEOBSERVER TWITTER.COM/THEOBSERVERCHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM Sports AUGUSTA, GA. Of all the 6,576 shots that were officially struck at Augusta National on Day 1 of the Mas- ters, only one truly mattered. It go in the hole. It down the center of the fairway. Nothing special about it at all, really.

Except for the fact that it was off a club swung by Tiger Woods. With his opening tee shot at 11:04 a.m. Thursday, the Mas- ters was truly back to normal. The full allotment of patrons was crammed into Augusta National to watch a tournament round the first time since the pre-pandemic days of 2019, the year in which Woods won the most recent of his five green jackets. They watched a man who could have lost a leg or his life in a car crash 15 months ago return to the spot of his past glory, and albeit moving perhaps a bit more slowly than he used to, chase glory again.

you would have seen how my leg looked to where at now to get from there to here, it was no easy Woods said. The scorecard said Woods shot a 1-under 71 on Thursday. basically average for Woods at Augusta National; literally, his career average in 91 tournament rounds at the place is 70.9. It is easy for nobody, not even champions, not even five- time champions, especially five-time champions who need- ed rods and screws and pins a little over a year ago to reassem- ble a right leg and right foot that were mangled in a car crash. Yet Woods answered the bell and then some Thursday, probably surprising some by playing at all, surprising even more by looking like someone who could contend.

the fact that, one, alive, considering what that accident was about. Two, that made a comeback to this point to be able to compete, longtime friend and incoming U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson said. also a situation where talking about an indivi- dual that, I mean, are we really that surprised? the best player ever played with, and I say that in all aspects. He is the best competitor ever wit- Sungjae Im was the first round leader, shooting a 5- under 67.

Cameron Smith was second, one shot back with a 68, and four players Danny Wil- lett, Joaquin Niemann, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and past Masters champion Dustin John- son were all two shots off the pace after rounds of 3-under 69. Dustin Johnson won his Mas- ters in 2020. Im and Smith tied for second that year. Thursday, the trio were all on the first page of the leaderboard again, the order slightly adjusted.

there is a coincidence there Im said, his mind drifting back to that mo- ment. Ah, nostalgia. No place does it better than the open-air mu- seum of golf that is Augusta National. The day started with a nod to tradition, of course: Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus extended their run as honorary starters for the tournament, joined this time by Tom Watson for the ceremo- nial tee balls off the first tee. They were all at the Masters Club dinner earlier this week, one of the many perks for past champions.

Woods was there as well, after being unable to at- SEE WOODS, 9A Masters Day 1: Woods returns, order restored BY TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press The spring session is com- plete for the Charlotte 49ers, and the team is beginning to take shape ahead of Will Hea- fourth year as head coach. The pressure is on for Healy, 37, following consecutive losing seasons and a historically bad defense in 2021, allowing 465 yards and 34 points per contest. Healy completely revamped the defensive staff this offseason, adding three new coaches with the announcement of a fourth in the coming weeks. that finished spring ball, our new coaches understand what our personnel looks like. seen what we do well and what we need to work Healy said following the spring game.

good leadership came back, and really good players came back. That means enjoying their experience here. im- portant to not only recruit but retain. excited to see the next steps for Though excitable demeanor remained the same, what was a youthful staff got much older on the defensive side of the ball. While the team fought to find its bearings throughout March, the series of 14 practices felt more like an acclimation period with many new faces among the roster and coaches.

Charlotte added plenty of experience to its staff with the additions of defensive coor- dinator Greg Brown and defen- sive line coach Brian Baker. Brown brings nearly 40 years of experience to the defense, including stints in the NFL and college at Alabama, Auburn and most recently Purdue in 2020. Baker adds nearly 36 years of coaching experience, 21 in the NFL across nine teams, including serving as the Carolina defensive line coach in 2009-10. His most recent collegiate position was under Nick Saban as the associate head coach and de- fensive line coach in 2019. Here are three takeaways from the spring session: EARLY OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE DEFENSE The defense continues to be a work in progress, implement- ing scheme and simpli- fying the play calls.

Schemat- ically, the group has operated similarly to defense from the 2017 season, where Brown served as a secondary coach under defensive coor- dinator Kevin Steele. It is closer to a traditional 4-3 base de- fense, although the base varies depending on who the SAM linebacker is. Charlotte began to mix up the coverages late in the spring session, mixing in plenty of cover-4 and single- high safety looks with the cor- nerbacks in press-man cov- erage. Brown is tasked with replac- ing both defensive captains and all three starting linebackers from last season. The safety combo of East Carolina transfer Davondre Robinson and Solomon Rogers have served as the vocal leaders of the secondary, with returning defensive end Markees Watts manning the front seven.

Several newcomers and po- tential impact players have emerged on the defensive side of the ball, including Miguel Jackson (DT), Cam Burden (LB), Juice Martin (nickel), Kansas State transfer Wayne Jones (DB) and Central Michi- gan transfer Amir Siddiq (DE). Siddiq may be the only sure-fire starter of the bunch, but all five have been key contributors throughout spring practice. The schematical simplifica- tion throughout the spring hopes to limit the big plays that bit the 49ers repeatedly last season. Charlotte is continuing to attack the transfer portal for assistance on defensive, recent- ly offering Pig Cage, a defen- sive back transfer from LSU, and Mike Lockhart, a lineman from Georgia Tech with three years of eligibility remaining. The offense was undoubtedly the superior unit throughout JONATHAN AGUALLO Charlotte quarterback Chris Reynolds will enter the season this fall as the starter.

Observations from spring practices SEE 49ERS, 14A BY HUNTER BAILEY Correspondent Dawn Staley swore over and over again during her playing days she would never become a coach. Everyone seemingly could see it in her future, every- one but her. In her role as an elite point guard she was always coaching. Reluctantly, Staley eventually accepted her fate, becoming the head coach of the Temple basketball team. Now, 22 years later, she is the first Black coach to win two NCAA national championships.

Other than Staley, there has only been five to ever win one in the history of and Division 1 basketball: John Thompson, Georgetown, 1984; Nolan Richardson, Ar- kansas, 1994; Tubby Smith, Kentucky, 1998; Carolyn Peck, Purdue, 1999; Kevin Ollie, UConn, 2014. success also has given her the platform to cham- pion issues off the court and she continues to speak out about gender equity, diversity and opportunities for women. seek it Staley recently told The Associated Press. I get asked, going to respond. Why? the right thing to While Staley looking for notoriety, basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli said she in inspiration and everyone listens to what she has to say.

a voice that is not just about South said Antonelli, who will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in June. a young coach, you talk about yourself and your Antonelli con- tinued. a veteran coach you become a servant to the game she has accepted Not that it came easily. Staley repeatedly told late Temple athletic director Dave she did not want the coaching job until changing her mind in 2000. Then, after eight seasons with the Owls, Staley worried her move to South Carolina might be if she quickly make inroads against Southeastern Confer- ence powers like Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU and Georgia.

It has turned out to be the best move she could have made. In the past year, she guided the US national team to Olympic gold last summer, beat UConn 64-49 in the NCAA title game and has a collection of coach of the year awards, including The Associ- ated Press, Naismith and SEC. She is heading to Los Angeles with center Aliyah Boston for Wooden Award cere- South Dawn Staley becomes force on, off the court BY PETE IACOBELLI Associated Press CHARLIE NEIBERGALL AP South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley cuts the net after her team beat UConn for the title on Sunday. SEE STALEY, 9A MAX SCHERZER MAKES HIS ANTICIPATED DEBUT FOR THE METS AS HE TAKES ON THE NATIONALS, ONE OF HIS FORMER TEAMS. Go to charlotteobserver.com/ GOING TO THE MAX.