USA TODAY International Edition
Woods grateful he was Palmer’s friend
Tiger Woods had much to celebrate as he plopped into a chair in the Bay Hill locker room on a quiet Monday afternoon in March 2013.
He had just won the storm- delayed Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, his 77th victory on the PGA Tour. He was healthy and strong. The victory moved him to No. 1 in the world for the first time in 29 months.
So cocktails were in order, and Woods relaxed with a few friends, including his caddie, Joe LaCava, and a vanquished opponent from the day’s work on the fairways, Rickie Fowler. Then a thunderous voice crashed the festivities.
From the other side of the room, a man took issue with Woods’ decision to lay up on the finishing hole to protect his lead. Sprinkling in off- color language, he also chastised Woods for chunking his third shot to the green, leaving the ball some 100 feet from the hole.
It was Arnold Palmer teeing up a world- class mocking. And Woods loved it, smiling and dropping his head in mock humiliation and trying to get a word in edgewise. It’s one of the countless memories of Palmer Woods can recite on command, spurred by a relationship he relished with a man 47 years his senior.
“He meant so much to the game and to me personally,” Woods said Sunday in a statement after Palmer’s death. “I knew that I could always call him for advice, and I looked forward to seeing him at Bay Hill and the Masters.
“Arnold touched so many people. My kids were born at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, and his philanthropic work will be remembered along with his accomplishments in golf. It was an honor and privilege to have known Arnold, and I’m forever grateful for his friendship.”
The two met for the first time when the U. S. Junior Amateur was played at Bay Hill in 1991. Yes, Woods won.
“He didn’t know me from Adam, but once I started winning a few tournaments and I got a chance to play in the majors as an amateur, got a chance to play with him a few times, which has been certainly one of the highlights of my life,” Woods said.
They kept meeting up at Bay Hill, especially on the 18th green for trophy celebrations as Woods won Palmer’s annual bash from 2000 to 2003, 2008 to 2009 and 2012 to 2013. Woods dined with Palmer a few times, as well, including many times at the champions dinner at the Masters.
Another dining experience left a bad taste in Woods’ mouth that he now laughs off. In 1995 Palmer was playing a PGA Tour Champions event in Napa, Calif. He invited Woods, a Stanford student, to dinner.
“Cool, I’ll go out to dinner with Arnold Palmer,” Woods recalled. “Well, the tab comes. I’m not going to say, ‘ Hey, Arnold, it’s on me.’ He goes and picks up the tab like it’s no big deal.”
It almost became a big deal. Woods was threatened with suspension by the NCAA if he didn’t reimburse Palmer for his portion of the dinner to avoid a violation. Woods had to write a check for $ 25 to Palmer.
Earlier that year, the skinny kid from Stanford played the Masters for the first time. The amateur standout was invited to join Palmer and Jack Nicklaus for a Wednesday practice round.
“And Arnold wants to play for skins,” Woods said. “Well, I have no money. I said, ‘ Ah, what are we playing for?’ Arnie said, ‘ Don’t worry, you’ll just owe us at the end.’ ‘ What if I beat you?’ And Arnie goes, ‘ You’ll still owe us.’
“Well, we’re pretty much tied up going to the last and Arnie makes some BS birdie to take all the skins. And Jack is frustrated with it. I’m ticked as well.”
Then the three played the Par- 3 Contest. Without a tee time. “They just said, ‘ Come with us,’ ” Woods said. “So we just walked over there, and we didn’t have to wait, and we were on the box. … I’ll never forget we all birdied No. 9. That was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been. They had hit it close, and now I’m looking out and seeing a lot of water and just a sliver of green. I was lucky enough to take it off the backboard on the green and have it roll back to the hole. So we all made 2.”
Woods talked about the knowledge he soaked up that day from the two Masters champions — the encyclopedia of information, is how Woods put it — on everything from putts to chips to angles. Then Woods remembered another moment.
“Arnold hit first on 10, and Jack hit second. I hit third. And Jack grabbed some water, and I did as well, and Arnold just took off down the fairway,” Woods said. “Well, he was using leather grips. And he was unwrapping the leather grips. I don’t know if anyone’s ever tried to regrip leather grips. Do you know how hard that is? You’ve got to have some of the strongest arms and hands in the world. And Arnie was just doing it going down the fairway as if it was nothing.
“‘ That’s Arnold,’ Jack said. His hand strength was amazing. He was hitching his pants, looking around, getting ready to hit a shot, regripping the clubs while he waited. That was Arnold right there. Just amazing.”