Setting the Scene: Tiger's first hole on Friday

Tiger Woods' second round at the Masters got off to a typical start Friday morning, until he yanked his tee shot into the left tree.

Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Maybe things really have returned to normal.

When Tiger Woods teed off Thursday in the first round of the 74th Masters Tournament it had the feel of a Sunday when he was chasing the Green Jacket. His return to the game after a four-month hiatus, during which his world had been rocked by scandal, was definitely one for the ages.

On this cool, crisp and sun-blessed Friday, though, it was almost business as usual.

Even a late arrival could catch a glimpse of Woods as he stroked a few last-minute putts on the practice green under the watchful eye of his caddy, Steve Williams, and swing guru Hank Haney. About 21 hours earlier, the throng outside the ropes had formed a human wall about 15-20 deep.

You could actually walk, shoulder-to-shoulder with friends even, between the stately old oak tree behind the clubhouse and the area where the first tee was roped off. You could see well enough to note that Woods was wearing black pants topped by a black sweater and green shirt.

Once again Ian Poulter, Steve Stricker and Yuta Ikeda were in the preceding group, playing nine minutes ahead of this marquee pairing. The Englishman was resplendent again in Easter egg colors -- a pink visor, yellow sweater and pink pants.

Ikeda was in the process of hitting his drive as Woods walked from the antebellum clubhouse to the practice green to polite applause. Bernhard Langer, the 52-year-old who had shot 71 in the first round, was putting nearby and barely missed a beat.

About five minutes later, Choi, who had opened with a 68, started the procession to the first tee. Woods soon followed to shouts of "Go, Tiger" just before Matt Kuchar, who shot 70 in the first round, arrived virtually unnoticed.

Woods, who shot 68 on Thursday, was the first to tee off. As the crowd quieted, the drone of a plane could be heard overhead but unlike Thursday -- when the crop-duster was pulling a sign with a disparaging message about Woods -- this one simply was flying to the airport.

Woods' drive strayed left into the trees and scattered fans who quickly formed a gauntlet around his ball. His second shot was deftly aimed through that chute and landed just short of the gaping greenside bunker. His chip landed within inches to insure a safe par.

"Pick it up for me, dude," one fan suggested Woods tell his playing partners. "That's in."

And they were off.