Like him, love him or hate him, Tiger Woods makes golf a better sport to watch when he is in a tournament and playing well.

The final round of the Masters on Sunday was gripping TV with eight different players sharing or holding the lead at some point, but let's be honest - relative unknown Charl Schwartzel ended up with the green jacket, but Woods got the drama going with a 31 on the front nine.

So you have arguably the best day on the calendar for the sport of golf, a crowded leaderboard, meaningful shots on every hole and the most loved and most hated golfer in the world at the same time charging from seven strokes back.

Quick, who won the major tournaments when Woods was out recovering from knee surgery a few years ago? Who finished fourth in 2009 when Angel Cabrera won the Masters?

Everyone is entitled to their opinions when it comes to Woods and his on-course antics and his off-the-course infidelity. It can not be argued that whether you are watching the tournament to root for him to win or root for him to fail, he remains the biggest draw on tour.

This is not to say Sunday's final round wouldn't have been great theater and unbelievable drama at Augusta with Adam Scott, Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy and others taking a run at the green jacket. With the young guns and the international flavor, CBS had to be thrilled.

But Woods being in the mix and finishing fourth never hurts.

Can Woods keep it going to the U.S. Open in June? NBC and golf fans all around the world should be praying for it.

- BTilton@News-Herald.com