Shaun Powell

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Nothing he does on a golf course surprises you, there’s no shot he can’t make, no deficit he can’t overcome, no torn knee ligament he can’t ignore. But Monday, well, who saw this coming?

Tiger Woods came across as genuine, human, even likeable. Phil Mickelson-ish, dare we say.

Monday at Augusta National seemed like a final-round Sunday, with so much drama and uncertainty swirling, all generated by the usual suspect. And sure enough, when he needed to, when he found himself with a bad lie in deep rough, Woods took a mighty swing and uncorked an eagle. Finally back from a self-imposed exile created by scandal, Tiger actually radiated warmth to fans, when in the past they were goose-bumped from the stiff breeze as he blew by them. Tiger took questions for 35 minutes from the national media, some tough ones, too, and answered all except one: his reason for therapy.

Well, if Woods underwent treatment for being a calculated robot, then he’s well on the way to being cured.

His first day at the Masters passed the smell test. It just seemed and felt right. The crowd that swelled five-deep at his morning practice round embraced him with a forgiving hug. His sit-down with reporters, for the first time since his SUV rammed into a tree last fall, had an honest, remorseful and regretful ring to it. Beaten and battered by embarrassing details of a string of infidelities, Woods appears ready to rally, personally and professionally.

“A lot has happened in my life over the past five months,” Woods said, “and I’m here at the Masters to play and compete.”

Special feature Timeline of Tiger’s sex scandal Timeline: A tabloid report, followed by an early morning car crash at Tiger Woods' Florida mansion, sets off a dark chapter in the pro golfer's life. NBCSports.com

As Woods said weeks ago, when he gave a red-eyed, televised apology to family and friends, his actions will carry more weight than his words. Fine, we’ll withhold judgment on declaring a new Woods until his reincarnation stands the test of time. Even then, the judge and jury for that is his wife Elin, first and foremost. And because she’s not in Augusta, obviously not ready for the finger-pointing and whispers that would come her way, there’s still work to be done at home.

For the public’s consumption, though, Woods is ready to make amends for whatever trust he betrayed and bond he broke with the sport and those who follow it. His news conference didn’t have any awkward lapses or combative responses. Woods was at ease and didn’t place any ground rules on the format, which goes against his control-freak approach for doing business. He spoke about therapy and its effects on him as a son, husband and father. Woods talked about being more respectful of the game and its gentlemanly customs. He acknowledged a need to reach out more to those who glorify him, the fans, as a way of showing love for their love. It was a simple step forward, nothing more, but at least his foot didn’t land on a banana peel.

Woods talked about personal responsibility for the string of affairs: “I was rationalizing and denying. Whatever I did, I lied to myself, I lied to others. The way I was thinking caused so much harm. I take full responsibility for what I’ve done.”

He spoke of redemption: “I had to take a really hard look at myself, and that’s where I started finding strength and peace.”

Woods spoke about the continuing process: “I’ve got to continue with my treatment. That’s not going to stop in the near future.”

At this point, what else is there for him to say? Well, yes, there’s the issue of steroids, but in the absence of tying Woods to evidence either real or strongly circumstantial, all because of being treated by a shady doctor, where exactly does that lead? And to be clear, Woods denied using "any PEDs."