Not for the first time, Tiger Woods has the sports world purring with anticipation.
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The golf superstar was set to make yet another improbable comeback when the famed Masters tournament teed off on Friday (NZ time).
Just 14 months ago, doctors considered amputating the five-time Masters champion's right leg after he crashed an SUV at an estimated 120kmh.
Woods spent three months in a hospital bed and, as early as two months ago, said he had a "long way to go" in his recovery.
But, for someone who had endured at least 10 surgeries to his back and legs, defying the odds was nothing new.
"As of right now I feel like I am going to play," Woods said on Wednesday.
"I'm going to play nine more holes tomorrow. My recovery has been good and my team has been fantastic.
"Another day of nine more holes, [then] game time."
It hadn't been hard to see the sheer magnitude of the 46-year-old's presence at Augusta.
Hordes of fans had followed his every move over the last three days.
He even compared his practice round to the final round of his 15th major triumph at the same venue in 2019.
"It felt a little bit like that.
"Not quite as frenzied as that was. That was a little bit different, it was a championship Sunday.
"But yesterday was incredible."
Justin Thomas, one of Woods' closest friends on tour, played alongside his great mate in that practice round.
The world No 7 was staggered by what he saw.
"It was unbelievable," Thomas said.
"It's probably more people than have ever watched me play a round at Augusta National, and they weren't watching me...
"Being able to feed off that energy, use the adrenaline, it's definitely going to be helpful."
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Spaniard Jon Rahm, favourite to win his first major, agreed the buzz around Augusta National was undeniable.
"You can feel it. You can feel it.
"A lot of it is Tiger, there is a lot more energy in the air in that sense.
"Monday felt like a Saturday at a regular event."
With the latest comeback all but confirmed, only one thing remained unanswered.
And four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was confident Woods could be a contender.
"The golf is there. He's hitting it well, chipping it well and he's sharp.
"It's just the physical demands of getting around 72 holes here this week. That's probably the question.
"But would I be surprised. No, I'm not surprised at anything he does anymore."
You got the feeling the man himself wasn't either.
Woods' body may not be the same, but that trademark confidence was firmly in-tact - despite the hurdles in his way.
"I can hit it just fine. I don't have any qualms about what I can do physically from a golf standpoint.
"Walking is the hard part. This is normally not an easy walk to begin with. Now given the conditions that my leg is in, it gets even more difficult.
"72 holes is a long road and it's going to be a tough challenge. And a challenge that I'm up for."
Woods was scheduled to tee off his opening round in the early hours of Friday morning (NZ time).