I’ve long been in the middle ground re Tiger Woods, neither a hater nor a big admirer (although I do approve of his commitment to our military, which is a consistent theme for him). But this – this is sad. A Masters without Tiger Woods, which will occur this year for the first time since 1994, is a much poorer Masters. I don’t think I’ve ever actually rooted for Woods to win a major; I don’t celebrate when he loses, but his demeanor doesn’t fit my ideals. Still, I want him in the field. He makes almost every tournament more exciting. He provides a great storyline, every time. And his performances sometimes are so otherworldly as to be absolutely riveting. (His most recent major victory, the 2008 U.S. Open on a fractured leg, was a wonder to behold and a testament to his skill and grit.)

More than that, no matter what one thinks of his personal life or his occasional lack of graciousness, Woods certainly has had a run of bad luck with injuries. Calf, knee, ankles, leg, wrist, and back: This is a guy who has suffered a lot, physically, at what for a golfer is still a rather young age (if not young for major victories, at least young for the number of injuries he has had). It is a shame to see a fierce competitor sidelined like this.

Moreover, this is just awful for the Masters and for CBS. With the exception of a stunningly entertaining match-play championship, this golf season (post New Year’s) already has been a dud, from the standpoint of the casual fan. Neither Woods nor Phil Mickelson has come close to winning. Nor has Sergio Garcia, at least not in the United States. Rory McIlroy hasn’t won. Adam Scott hasn’t won. Ernie Els hasn’t won. Jim Furyk, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose: nada. Even some of the more identifiable rising stars — Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Bill Haas, Rickie Fowler, Brandt Snedeker — have been largely AWOL.

Even the mid-level golf fan, before the season started, probably couldn’t identify half of the following from a photo lineup: Stephen Bowditch, Matt Every, Chesson Hadley, Patrick Reed, Scott Stallings, or maybe even Russell Henley. Yet all have been winners since New Year’s, and often without a lot of serious drama. It’s good for young players to emerge — but it’s usually good when they do so in a mix with established stars, rather than all at once, in a parade of unfamiliarity for most fans.

In short, there is no obvious, galvanizing storyline leading into Augusta this year. Indeed, there’s not even a semi-obvious one. It’s the most unsettled, aimless season leading into the Masters that I’ve ever seen.

And now, to take away Tiger Woods . . . well, that just is a huge buzz-kill.

Here’s hoping the magic of Augusta transcends the lack of buzz leading in. And here’s wishing for a speedy recovery for Woods, even if one hopes he never surpasses the Major victory record of Jack Nicklaus.