Woods has that winning feeling again
● Talk of a Tiger victory has ring of plausibility at a course he loves
the lead on the final day at each. He is, after all, ranked 12th in the world and has two top tens in five starts this year. Indeed, there are some, like former PGA Tour winner John Cook, who remain permanently invested in the idea of Woods’ omnipotence. “Who would you back to hole those putts on the back nine on Sunday?” he asked as if the last decade had not happened.
When asked to reflect on the ten years since his 14th and last major triumph, even Woods is a little taken aback at the poor returns, despite his exposure to domestic crisis and injury. “I would say that I wouldn’t
have 0 Tiger Woods walks with his caddie Joe Lacava on the 13th hole during a practice round at Augusta. Below, Woods is all smilesafterwinning thetour Championship last year. foreseen that, for sure. After I won my 14th, I felt like I still had plenty more major championships that I could win, but unfortunately I just didn’t do it. I put myself there with chances on the back nine on various Sundays and just haven’t done it.”
The win at Eastlake in Atlanta, home of the great Bobby Jones, whose vision has grown into arguably the most prestigious championship in golf, connected Woods to one of America’s most significant historic figures, not that he needs any narrative heft.
“It proved to me that I could win again. I was close a couple times. I was close at Tampa. I was close at The Open Championship, had the lead there. I was making a run at Brooksy at the PGA.
“I just needed to clean up my rounds and maybe needed to get a break here or there. I was finally able to do that. And when I look back upon that week, it’s not only how it culminated with everyone on 18, but I led from day one.
“That’s not easy to do. And from the struggles I’ve had the last few years, to go out and take the lead on the first day and then end up winning the tournament, to lead it wire to wire, that made it that much more special.”
We are, of course, back whereitallbeganforwoods, where the light and the heat first touched us. For the naysayers among us who thought he was done, Augusta might yet be too hot to handle on Sunday. One of the best things to come of my experience at Augusta was that there are now a good number of my family and friends that can say that they have experienced the spectacle of the Masters. Although Augusta is an exclusive club, once you are through the gates of Magnolia Lane, the members are very welcoming. They also look after the amateur competitors with the best of hospitality due to the fact they are very aware of their connections with amateur golf through Bobby Jones.
Indeed, you get a firm impression that nothing would please the club more than an amateur being in contention for the Green Jacket on the back nine come Sunday.
On the last practice day, Gary Player’s caddie approached with an invite to play the back nine with Gary, but I decided to decline as I wanted to play the front nine as I felt I didn’t know it so well.
Years later I was watching the news and Dave King, who was leading the takeover for Rangers, was getting off a plane – and I recognised him more as Gary Player’s caddie!
I was fortunate enough to be paired with Tom Watson and, whilst chatting in between shots, I asked if he played any other sports as a youngster, to which he replied ‘basketball’.
Before I could stop myself, I had blurted out ‘you must be able to jump really high Tom’ followed by a laugh which I had to cut short when I realised he didn’t find it so funny!