US Masters: Seven things we learned at Augusta

1 Tiger Woods hasn't gone away: Regenerated and motivated, Tiger Woods – who was 111th in the world coming in after his self-imposed hiatus from competition – is back as a force. He has 14 Majors on his CV, the last of those won in the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, and there was something of the snarl of old back in his demeanour here.

To be two months away from the game, working his “ass off” as he put it, and to come back with no sign of his short game yips is indicative of Woods’s work ethic and desire. It is still there.

The greater problem is whether he can stay free of the back and knee issues that have plagued him in recent years. But a fit Woods will contend for more Majors and get the chance to close the gap on Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 titles. He’ll definitely contend in the British Open at St Andrews, where he is a course and distance winner.

2 Young bloods: All of a sudden it seems the sport is alive with young guns who hold no fear and who have the game to challenge. Let's remember, Rory McIlroy is only 25 with four Major titles to his credit so far. But Jordan Spieth's continued evolvement means there is a potential rivalry emerging to replicate that of Jack, Arnie and Gary in their prime.

Add in Rickie Fowler to the mix and possibly Hideki Matsuyama – who is only 23 and brings an Asian dimension – and you have plenty of new blood who have what it takes to be in the shake-up in the Majors going forward.

3 No Irish green jacket . . . yet! With five Irish players – one of them the world number one – in the field, expectations were high that the 79th Masters could deliver something special. Complete the last missing link in the Major haul, even. Some party pooper let the air out of the balloon early on, and the quintet became bit players in the greater drama.

Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry missed the cut; while Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke were finished their final rounds long before the main contenders went off. Only Rory McIlroy threw some shapes. He still looks the Irish player with the game best-suited to Augusta National . . . which means the question of the career Grand Slam will welcome him every year he tees up until he actually dons the green jacket.

It is the only Major title that has eluded Irish players down the years.

4 Soft Greens = Easier Test: Tiger Woods wondered why the SubAir system wasn't roaring away underneath the surface. With so much moisture on the greens, the putting surfaces were unusually receptive. With the fear factor on the greens gone, records tumbled.

Part of the allure of Augusta National is the speed of the greens, but this Masters was noticeable for the way in which balls – even long iron approaches – managed to find and stay on the putting surfaces.

Those shots also left ball marks, unheard of here. Putting is a part of winning and contending in the Masters like no other Major. Fast greens mean tougher questions. Pity the questions were a bit easier this time.

5 Death of the broom-handle putter: No tears were shed for the demise of the broom-handle putter, which made its last appearance at the Masters. By the time next April's 80th edition of the tournament takes place, the anchoring of such long putters will be banned by the world's two governing bodies, the R&A and the USGA.

It means that Adam Scott – who triumphed in 2013 – will have the distinction of being the first and only player to win a green jacket wielding one of the long sticks on Augusta National's greens.

Does that deserve an asterisk beside his name in the roll of honour?

6 Sergio has (finally) learned to keep his mouth shut: The bad blood between Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods is over, even if the two are unlikely to be inviting each other around to dinner any time soon.

Garcia’s faux pas at the European Tour dinner in 2013 – “We will have him around every night. We will serve fried chicken” – resulted in the Spaniard issuing an apology, and Woods saying, “The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate.”

It was just one of a number of conflicts between the pair through the years – with Garcia the one usually opening his mouth first – but, in Saturday’s third round, the first time the pair have played together in two years, there were no issues. The only time Garcia talked to Woods was to remark “good shot” or “good birdie”.

7 (Still) Tradition like no other Major: It's not the oldest Major (that's the British Open) and, in fact, it's the newest – yet there is a tradition to the Masters tournament that remains true to the beliefs of Bobby Jones, its creator.

It remains an invitational, with the smallest field of all the Majors, and the amateur champions get to stay in the Crow’s Nest in the clubhouse which is akin to a dormitory in boarding school.

Other traditions include the event getting under way with tee balls struck by the honorary starters on Thursday before the serious business starts, and of the green jacket being slipped on to the shoulders of the new champion by his predecessor.

As the first Major of each season, and the only one which returns to the same venue year-in year-out, it has a very special place in the golfing calendar.