Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SIBERIAN TIGER ..AND TIGER’S RECORD SINCE THAT WIN
Woods is expecting a tough test defending his Green Jacket in winter: I’ve played Augusta this time of year..it’s cold and the ball doesn’t fly far
NEIL SQUIRES
TIGER WOODS called in at Augusta National at the weekend to check out an autumn Masters scene.
And it was vastly different to the last time he was there.
The madness of April 14, 2019 is etched into th e memory of every golf fan, a stop-the-clocks day that had you pinching yourself to check it was really happening.
When he holed his final putt, threw his arms to the Georgia sky, and listened to the chants of ‘ Tiger, Tiger’ erupting around the 18th green, it was a moment for the sporting scrapbook.
Wo o d s is no wistful romantic and his scouting mission to the course where he won his fifth Green Jacket 19 months ago was purely business.
But he would not be human if it di d n o t stir warm memories of that day.
What chance a repeat this week? The hard evidence says zero. He has shown nothing in the way of Major-winning form this year – his handful of events since golf ’s return have yielded a best finish of 37th.
In his favour, though, is the fact that he has far more experience of the famous Augusta National in November than any of his rivals.
“The fact that the Masters will be held in November is unprecedented , it’s never been done before. I can’t simulate the normal ramp-up that I normally have,” said Woods, ahead of last month’s Zozo Championship, where he finished 72nd.
“I have played there i n November and the times that I have played in November, it’s been the same. It’s been cold and the ball doesn’t go very far.
“It’s so different. If you’re able to get the north wind that time of year, it can be awfully difficult and long and very different to what we normally play in April.”
The good news for Woods is that the forecast is unseasonably warm, which will help his rickety back. The bad news is that it is also likely to be wet, which will play into the hands of the bighitters club, of which Woods is no longer a member.
The new chairman of that club is Bryson Dechambeau. When the US Open winner played a practice round at
Augusta during last week he f lew the green at the third hole with his drive – and the third hole is 350 yards long.
At 44, Woods cannot compete on that front any more so will have to rely on ringcraft and course knowledge as he prepares for his 23rd Masters
Sunny intervals start on Thursday. It will be a unique Masters, with no patrons and no Sund ay afternoon roar.
“There’s no other place like it. It echos there, it travels,” said Woods.
But one tradition – t o m o r r o w ’s C h a m p i o n s Dinner, hosted by Woods – will survive, albeit in sociallydistanced form.
“We’re not going to have as many of the past champions, which is a shame, but this is unlike any time we’ve ever had in the past so we’ve got to do what we can do to have the traditions that we’d like to have but also maintain safety guidelines,” said Woods.
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Missed cut
MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
US OPEN 21st
THE OPEN Missed Cut
THE NORTHERN TRUST Withdrawn
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP 37th BMW CHAMPIONSHIP 51st
THE NORTHERN TRUST 58th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 37th MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT 40th
THE GENESIS INVITATIONAL FARMERS INSURANCE
OPEN 9th
HERO WORLD
CHALLENGE
THE ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP 1st US OPEN Missed