By Alex Myers
What better way to get your Masters fix while in quarantine than by firing up YouTube and remembering all the stuff you might have missed from past Sundays at Augusta National?

Everyone remembers the chip. That delicate, dangerous thing of beauty that spent far more time travelling backwards than forward before breaking to a stop, and then, somehow, falling into the cup. But there was more to this instant classic than arguably Tiger Woods’ most iconic shots—and one of Verne Lundquist’s most memorable calls. “IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT?!” Nope, can’t say that I have, Verne. Not even 15 years later. But there were plenty of other great moments that final round. Here’s what else that stood out when I rewatched this instant classic.

1.) A particularly fired-up Jim Nantz greets us because he has a lot to catch us up on. And most of that has to do with one Eldrick Tiger Woods. Three crappy days of weather caused the need for an early re-start of the third round on Sunday morning and CBS shows Tiger striding down a dew-ridden fairway before birdieing No. 10 (by the way he birdied his final three holes on Saturday). Behind him, Chris DiMarco, who had been in complete control, doubles the same hole. Then after catching a break with his tee shot on the difficult 11th, Tiger makes another birdie to tie for the lead! That was quick!

But he’s not done. A birdie on 12! A birdie on 13! That’s SEVEN birdies in a row! Fist pumps are flying! Take a look at this incredible graphic:

Tiger was actually nine under through 13 holes in the third round, but bogeys on 14 and 15 (ouch) kept him from a potential course record. More importantly, though, after playing catch-up himself all week since an opening 74 that included a putt into Rae’s Creek, Woods had seized a three-shot lead through 54 holes. So it was over, right? Nope!

2.) We have “GLORIOUS” weather at last, Nantz announces after setting up the final round. The first live shot is Phil Mickelson, who is defending his first major win, on No. 1. Yay! We’ve reached the era of showing the leaders’ entire final round! Just four years before with Woods trying to complete the Tiger Slam, the first shot shown of him came on the sixth hole. Now, CBS is showing Woods arriving on the range with then swing coach Hank Haney. He’s dressed in that famed red shirt with the mock collar. You know, the one he brought back in 2019 and won. He should never wear another shirt on Sunday again.

3.) Speaking of Mickelson, he had a solid week as defending champ, but a disappointing Sunday. He entered the final round in a tie for fourth place, but shot 74 to finish T-10. That’s OK. He’ll be back. Now time to focus on the two players who really mattered that day: Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco. This would wind up being quite the duel in the sun.

John Biever

4.) Tiger had to back away from his opening tee shot because it sounded like someone was coughing. He gave a little chuckle and then smashed maybe the longest drive of all-time on that hole—344 yards—with a driver that looks the size of his current 5-wood. Woods only had 91(!) yards for his approach and he took advantage by spinning one to within six feet to set up an opening birdie. Just like that, Tiger led by four. Now it’s over, right? Nope!

5.) After a birdie-birdie start, Tiger lays up off the tee on No. 3. As he’s strutting down the fairway, Lanny Wadkins remarks, “If he could win by 10—which is possible—I think all the questions about the swing changes would go away.” There’s so much to dissect here. First of all, win by 10? Sure, he’d won by 12 in 1997 and by 15 at Pebble Beach in 2000, but that’s still a tall order. Second, this was during the period when people were still doubting Woods had made the right move by switching from Butch Harmon to Hank Haney. But third, he had already won at Torrey Pines and Doral earlier that season and now he had a four-shot lead on Sunday at the Masters. I think it was safe to say the swing changes were working, Lanny!

6.) At some point, Tiger Woods’ record-breaking cut streak is mentioned. Following this eventual win, Woods would make just one more cut (finishing T-11 at Quail Hollow) before finally failing to make the weekend at the Bryon Nelson. So this was consecutive cut No. 141 out of 142. Amazing.

7.) Let’s get caught up on DiMarco, who is striping it, but missed great birdie looks on Nos. 1, 3, and 8. He doesn’t miss from three feet, though, on No. 9 after stiffing his approach. Tiger responds by hitting one inside 10 feet and rolling in the putt. Tiger still led by three, but this was clearly going to be a battle.

8.) They say the Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday, and Tiger started this particular back nine with a bogey on No. 10. Minutes later, DiMarco drains a long birdie putt on No. 11 to get within one. This is intense!

9.) DiMarco falls two back after a bogey on No. 12 while Tiger does his typical Tiger move there by hitting his approach 40 feet left of the flag and two-putting for par. When will others learn?! Actually, DiMarco took an even more conservative line off the tee, but went deep and couldn’t get up and down. But he wasn’t done yet . . .

10.) After both guys made disappointing pars on No. 13, DiMarco hit his approach on No. 14 to tap-in range. Back to one down. As every CBS commentator by this point has mentioned numerous times, “this is a match-play situation,” folks!

Icon Sports Wire

11.) Nothing can deter DiMarco. Not even a Trevor Immelman ace on No. 16 right as Chris is about to hit his approach shot on No. 15. He backs away momentarily, then sticks one to four feet—a much-needed shot considering Woods is already on the par 5 in two with a good look at eagle. By the way, many people probably thought that would be the highlight of Immelman’s career at Augusta National. Wrong! Much more on that in a few days. In the meantime, Woods two-putts for birdie and DiMarco answers to remain one down with three to play. Whatever is going to happen next? I can’t remember . . .

12.) DiMarco hits first on No. 16 and confidently picks up his tee with his golf ball in the air. It’s a fine shot that catches the slope and finishes about 18 feet below the hole. Then Woods goes and. . . goes deep over the back-left portion of the green. He’s in quite the pickle, and Wadkins does a fantastic job setting up the shot. And then, it happens. Let’s watch it, shall we?

Five days until Masters Week.
Verne Lundquist and Lanny Wadkins suspend belief on No. 16 and deliver the signature moment in @TigerWoods’ march towards a fourth Green Jacket in the 2005. pic.twitter.com/euw2j0JmE8

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 3, 2019

And from a different angle!

10 years ago, Tiger Woods holed out on No. 16 in dramatic fashion. Watch this historic shot from a different angle.https://t.co/5bnny62LBO

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 5, 2015

“Here it comes . . . Oh, my goodness!” Lundqvist exclaims as Woods’ golf ball tumbles toward the hole. “OH! WOW! In your LIFE have you seen anything like that?!” Seriously, it never gets old. I’ve seen it 1,000 times and I still don’t believe it. Unfortunately, Tiger and caddie Steve Williams completely butchered the initial celebration, but who can blame them after essentially causing the entire state of Georgia to have an earthquake?

13.) After the patrons settled down—and the Masters may have been the only event where fans could settle down after witnessing a miracle—DiMarco misses his birdie putt and settles for par. Poor guy. Before Tiger’s absurd chip-in, there was a decent chance he was going to leave 16 with the lead. Instead, he trailed by two with two holes to go. OK, now it was over. Right? Nope!

14.) Many people forget what happened next, a near-collapse by Tiger on 17 and 18 that was almost as stunning as the magic he conjured on 16. He blocked his tee shot on 17, leading to a bogey, then hit a wipey approach—Kidding, Hank!—on 18, setting up another bogey. Oddly enough, a siren caused Woods to back away before hitting his second on 18. And then returned while he hit. “Well, the alarms going off in his swing,” Nantz muses, “someone might be trying to steal his green jacket.” Great line.

15.) And it almost happened moments later! MY WORD, did DiMarco come close to chipping in on No. 18. Nantz, for one, couldn’t believe it didn’t drop. “Look out! OH! OH! How did that not go in?!” Regardless, it didn’t. Nor did Tiger’s 10-footer for the win. Expect anything different? Well, actually, at the time, everyone did.

16.) Both Tiger’s bogey putt and DiMarco’s ensuing par putt (Woods chose to go first after missing his par attempt) were longer than I remembered. Tiger took his time before brushing in his three-footer and DiMarco calmly rolled in a six-footer to force a playoff. We’re going to extra holes! And we better hurry because we’re running out of daylight!

17.) Interesting enough, this was the first Masters sudden-death playoff to start on the 18th hole. The previous six all started on 10. Also, while we have a brief interlude, a few other interesting facts from the week. Woods and DiMarco finished seven shots clear of a third-place tie between Luke Donald and Retief Goosen, who shot a Sunday-best 67.

Also, this was the final Masters for three former champs: Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, and Tommy Aaron. Casper shot 105 (widely reported as 106, but our Mike Johnson was there and painstakingly counted every shot) in the opening round, but since he withdrew and didn’t turn in a scorecard, it’s not officially the worst score in Masters history. And we should have known Woods was going to win. Remarkably, in each of Jack’s final sendoffs at the four majors, Woods won the trophy that week. OK, they’re back on the tee . . .

18.) Woods and DiMarco both hit solid drives, but Woods gained the edge by hitting his approach right over the flagstick to about 15 feet. Like he did in regulation, DiMarco’s approach funnelled off the front of the green. And like he did in regulation, the pesky pro nearly chipped in. But nearly wouldn’t be enough today. Moments later, Tiger buried his birdie putt—good thing it was centre cut because that thing had some pace on it!—to finally finish off his worthy foe and claim a fourth green jacket.

Jamie Squire

19.) From the reactions of Nantz and Wadkins, you’d think Woods had been awaiting a big win for decades, but I guess it felt that way after how thoroughly Woods had dominated from the end of 1999 to mid-2002, when he won seven of 11 majors. “It had been a long time since he’d won a major,” Nantz says while watching Woods take it in. “Almost three years.”

Shortly after, Lanny added, “With the swing changes, he’s trying to prove people wrong, that he’s right and knows what he’s doing, and a win at Augusta is the start to that. I think a more convincing win would have convinced a lot of people. I think there are still going to be some questions because there were some nervy shots down the stretch.” Lanny is a tough critic! The guy just won the Masters for his third win of the season! He’d only go on to win three more times that year, including a 10th major at the Open Championship. Decent.

20.) Speaking of tough, this marked the second consecutive major lost in a playoff by DiMarco, who also fell to Vijay Singh at the 2003 PGA at Whistling Straits. And he would also come up just a little short to Tiger in another memorable duel the following year at Hoylake. So this was no Bob May major cameo, even if the three-time PGA Tour winner never won a major. Golf can be cruel, huh? OK, let’s wrap up with a few observations from the green jacket ceremony in Butler Cabin.’’

21.) Ryan Moore joined Woods and defending champ Phil Mickelson as the low amateur. In fact, with a one-under total, he was the low amateur since 1978, finishing T-13. Impressive stuff. That dude is definitely going to win some majors. . . right. . . ?

22.) Speaking of projections, at that point no one could imagine Woods would have to wait 14 more years before winning a fifth green jacket. Especially after witnessing the sorcery he pulled off on 16. When asked about that, Tiger drops a fantastic “CUSH,” referencing the two-shot lead it gave him. Those classic Tigerisms go way back. But he seemed a little ticked about almost letting the tournament slip away. Ever the perfectionist.

23.) And finally, Tiger addressed his dad not being behind the 18th hole like he had been for the previous three victories. “I talked to my mom this morning and we decided if I was lucky enough to win, I wanted to dedicate this to my father,” Woods said. “He’s here, but he’s just not healthy enough to come out and enjoy this. So this one’s for you, Pop.” Sadly, Earl Woods died about a year later. But even if he was watching on TV, at least he lived to see what would become his son’s most-replayed shot. And those of us lucky enough to still be around get to see it over and over (and over) again.

2005 Masters—Final Round Broadcast

https://youtu.be/HGzvqU-T85I

The post An iconic Tiger Woods shot, a surprisingly good duel, and a shocking near-collapse made the 2005 Masters an instant classic appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Alex Myers
Welcome to another edition of The Grind where we started the new year not with a bang, but with a beep. In fact, a series of very annoying pre-dawn beeps thanks to the batteries dying in a carbon monoxide alarm. Fortunately, because I’m old and hadn’t even stayed up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, I didn’t lose too much sleep. In any event, the first PGA Tour event of the new decade delivered lots of drama and gave us plenty to talk about as we begin an eighth(!) year of The Grind. Wow, time flies when you’re having fun, and doing, well, whatever the heck it is I do in this space. Thanks as always for following along.

WE’RE BUYING

Justin Thomas: Is it too early to start putting together the next round of player-of-the-decade posts? Because this guy has a great chance to be at the top, and he’s already off to a fantastic start. Thomas won the Tournament of Champions for a second time in four years, outlasting Presidents Cup teammates Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele in a playoff at Kapalua, and overcoming some bad swings and a crazy decision on the 72nd hole that almost made Josh Allen’s absurd attempted lateral look smart by comparison. In the end, though, JT won for a third time in seven starts. HOT.

In fact, his 12th career PGA Tour title made him the fourth player to reach that milestone before turning 27 (Tiger, Jack and Sneed are the other three. Decent). And, amazingly, the artist formerly known as Jordan Spieth’s little buddy has now passed his good friend in career wins after once trailing 8-1. I hope this doesn’t affect the dynamic of #SB2K20!

Pat Perez’s $8,000 toilet: Or, rather, Pat and Ashley Perez’s $8,000 toilet. Apparently, Pat has put his wife in charge of interior decorating and the couple will now have a chamber pot fit for a King and Queen. Check this thing out:

Does anyone need to be massaged or have their feet warmed while doing his/her business? Of course not. But it sure sounds luxurious. Considering Perezes’ recent $10K Vegas dinner bill, getting this magical toilet for less seems like a steal.

The World Handicap System: The new system that’s going into affect and will put most of the world on the same system makes a lot of sense. I applaud such changes as attempting to factor in conditions and updating daily so there isn’t as much luck as to when your handicap is calculated ahead of your big event. I also like the net double bogey max rule for everyone. It never made sense to me that different players could take different max scores. However. . .

WE’RE SELLING

The World Handicap System: There are still some problems, starting with the system counting even fewer rounds. I’m not a math major, but the fewer the rounds that count, the smaller the sampler size and the less accurate you get. I thought they’d go the other way with that. Also, as Dean Knuth points out, the new extra calculation to adjust course handicaps to par defies logic (since course rating already factors par into its equation) and makes this process even more confusing. In related news, I hate course handicaps because I always feel like I’m giving everyone on my golf trip too many strokes. I’m calling for a course handicap revolution! Get rid of them altogether!

Patrick Reed’s reception: It may be a new year, but people haven’t forgotten about Reed’s sand shenanigans in the Bahamas last month. One fan went as far to scream “CHEATER!” after Patrick Reed missed his birdie attempt on the third and final playoff hole. And one player—former U.S. Ryder and Presidents Cupper Chris DiMarco—went as far as calling Reed, well, see for yourself the tweet that has since been taken down:

Wow. Reed is under such fire from all around that I’m surprised Ricky Gervais didn’t take a shot at him in his Gold Globes monologue/bloodbath.

Rickie’s pineapples:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B60k04_nkmh/?utm_source=ig_embed

Nope.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour continues its Hawaiian Swing with the Sony Open, AKA that event where everyone thought a ballistic missile was on its way to wiping out the entire island. And yet Justin Thomas just kicked back on his hotel couch, opened up a sliding door and listened to music. No wonder he’s so cool under pressure. Well, other than that horrendous decision to hit 3-wood on 18 on Sunday.

Random tournament fact: Seven of the past eight winners of this tournament played at Kapalua the week before. So do with that what you will. For the record, I’ve got $10 on Brendon Todd at 50(!)-to-1 odds. Sure, he didn’t have a good week at the Sentry TOC, but he played, damn it.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—That’s the last time a fan will heckle Patrick Reed this year: 1-MILLION -to-1 odds

—Brooks Koepka will publicly criticize a golfer for slow play this year: 40-to-1 odds (Actual odds)

— Brooks Koepka will privately criticize a golfer for slow play this year: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Yes, this came out a few weeks back, but we were on break and didn’t get the chance to properly discuss. And because it’s one of the greatest golf photos of all time.

Well played, TaylorMade.

VIRAL VIDEO(S) OF THE WEEK

I don’t care that more that we have more than 99 per cent of the decade to go, there will not be a more unlikely putt holed in the next 10 years than this:

$5,000 PUTT! ?

A Baylor fan sinks a putt on the court to win five thousand dollars. pic.twitter.com/LK4IaeGSnV

— ESPN (@espn) January 5, 2020

Good for that dude. Although he deserved the same paycheck JT got at Kapalua for that effort. And speaking of crazy “putts”:

#SCtop10 #WaitForIt @RealMattScharff pic.twitter.com/JAFjMYs7HT

— Garrett Clark (@gm__golf) January 2, 2020

That’s some impressive engineering.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK INVOLVING AN OSCAR-NOMINATED ACTOR

People freaked out about the Masters promo that ran over Christmas, but this U.S. Open at Winged Foot ad involving Don Cheadle has me even more hyped!

Did you see it…Oh, you didn’t?

Around the #USOpen, we love football…but we’re not talking about football.

This is only the beginning! pic.twitter.com/LkuqXM2xi5

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) January 5, 2020

Yes! Let the bogeys flow!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I should have won the tournament. I know it. Everyone knows it.”. —Xander Schauffele. Substitute the word “game” for “tournament” and this statement could have also been uttered by anyone on the Buffalo Bills.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Members – Attached are my #notes from today’s meeting with architect Hank Jones on our upcoming back nine redesign. pic.twitter.com/xafP6231Bn

— Club Pro Guy (@ClubProGuy) January 6, 2020

One of the highlights of my 2019 came when CPG followed me. A true genius.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

How about Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman showing off her swing?

Had no idea what I was doing… think I just got lucky ? https://t.co/tIfGq2HoUg pic.twitter.com/0Cpihr7hz8

— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) December 29, 2019

Of course, you’d expect a gymnast to have good balance. Speaking of decent athletes. . .

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PROS MAKING US FEEL BAD ABOUT OURSELVES WITH OUR WORKOUTS

Lexi Thompson’s New Year’s resolutions: Get stronger, win more, lose less passports.

And how about the New Year’s Eve message Brooks Koepka sent the rest of pro golf? While everyone else was out partying, the World No. 1 was in the gym:

It’s been a journey these past 3 months rehabbing my knee but it’s coming along & I’m ready to get back out there healthy for a strong 2020 ? pic.twitter.com/oIFunY7wO0

— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) December 31, 2019

Meanwhile, my resolution is to read our post called “12 exercises every golfer should be doing now.” Not to actually attempt them, mind you, but to read about them. Hey, it’s a start.

THIS WEEK IN PGA TOUR PRO-WAGS PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Harry How

Awwww.

THIS AND THAT

Brooks Koepka beat Rory McIlroy for the Golf Writers Association of America Player of the Year. I voted for Brooks and I’m glad to see golf writers put more value on major championships than tour pros. . . . Scott McCarron beat Steve Stricker in the GWAA’s vote for PGA Tour Champions Player of the Year. I voted for the Strick Show and for some reason, golf writers don’t put more value on majors when it comes to the senior circuit. . . . Dottie Pepper paid off the lunch debt for 50 students at her former elementary school in upstate New York. What a great gesture. . . . Lost in all the best-of-the-decade madness was an incredible Bernhard Langer stat. While Dustin Johnson and Inbee Park led the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, respectively, with 18 wins, Langer led the seniors with 32! What a machine.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Who will wind up with more career wins: JT or Spieth?
What would Johnny Miller say about Patrick Reed?
What would Ricky Gervais say about Patrick Reed?

The post Justin Thomas passes Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed’s enemies list grows, and Pat Perez’s $8,000 toilet appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Can Tiger Woods win a 15th major? Could he do it at Augusta National? Kent Gray asks those who know best.

When tiger woods hobbled out of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in early February 2017, the end appeared nigh.

Hosting his annual charity tournament in the neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi at the time, Gary Player conceded the former world No.1 faced a “monumental challenge” to be competitive again.

It was debatable whether the Black Knight, a nine-time major winner and champion of physical well-being, was more concerned about the back spasms Woods cited following his withdrawal or the sloppy approaches, yippy chipping and tentative putting that had marked his opening 77 on the Majlis layout at Emirates Golf Club.

Super-coach cum Sky Sports analyst Butch Harmon was even more pessimistic after commentating on Woods’ five-over-par Thursday, his worst score in 29 competitive rounds at the European Tour event.

Getty Images

“I’d like to say yes, but it doesn’t seem likely at the moment,” Harmon said of his former charges’ chances of regaining his heyday form after Woods’ scratching was confirmed just minutes before his scheduled second-round tee-time.

“Tiger is 41-years-old, he’s had three back surgeries and four knee surgeries, and the young kids on Tour right now are playing better and better.”

Few who had witnessed Woods’ walk with such a cautious gait and curtail swing after swing with a stiff, ungainly looking finish in Dubai would have been brave enough to offer a counter-argument to Harmon’s assessment.

Fast-forward to the 30th-anniversary edition of the Desert Classic in January and Woods’ name was again nowhere to be seen on the leaderboard in Dubai. It didn’t stop his rejuvenated game from being a conversation starter, however, and why not after a remarkable 2018 which saw Woods capture the ‘Comeback-of-the-Year’ award at the recent Laureus World Sports Awards.

“Yeah, definitely,” Tommy Fleetwood offered when asked if he expected Woods to contend again in 2019 after ending 2018 by winning the Tour Championship at East Lake, his 80th PGA Tour title and first win since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Indeed, the Englishman sees no reason why the 14-time major champion can’t edge closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 bigs this season. After contending for the Claret Jug at Carnoustie (T-6) last July and finishing two-shots shy of Brooks Koepka at Bellerive Country Club at the PGA Championship the following month, Woods is “trending” according to Fleetwood.

“I was lucky enough to play with him a few times last year, and I thought if you didn’t know he was Tiger Woods, if he was just a random player that you see out on Tour every week, you’d have just watched him and said: ‘This guy is due a win or…he’s trending in the right direction for sure’,” Fleetwood continued.

“He’s very, very close, and that’s without him being Tiger Woods. I’m pretty sure he’ll be up there. If I were a betting man, I would have a little flutter on him winning a major this year but again, who knows.”

Of course, there are no guarantees for a golfer who underwent his fourth back surgery in April 2017 to alleviate the back and leg pain so evident in Dubai two months earlier. Then again, this is Tiger we’re talking about.

“I was never one to say that he couldn’t make a good come back,” said Swede Henrik Stenson, the 2016 Open champion.

“I think what he’s done over the years and the career that he’s had, it would be a little bit foolish to say that you don’t see him winning golf tournaments and having a good come back when and if he got healthy, and he did.

“Now I think if he can stay healthy and if his body is going to hold up to the stress that the golf swing putts on it… yeah, I can see him winning more tournaments for sure.”

More tournaments? How about more majors? How about at Augusta National where Woods has such a formidable record – four green jackets, a pair of runner-up finishes and a total of 17 top-25 placings in 21 starts?

Bryson DeChambeau, who won the 30th Desert Classic in record fashion and is one of the “young kids” Harmon spoke of back in 2017, inadvertently reverted back to Harmon’s comments.

He’s very, very close and that’s without him being Tiger Woods. If I was a betting man, I’d have a little flutter on him winning a major this year. – Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood said he would put a bet on Tiger winning a major. Do you think he will be challenging in 2019, Bryson?

“Hopefully I have something to say on that,” said DeChambeau, never one shy of sharing a golfing theory, no matter how whacky it might have seemed a year or two ago. Much like the prospect of Woods winning again, much less a major title.

“I would say that he’s got a very good chance, absolutely. Augusta is obviously one of his favourites. Pebble Beach [for the U.S. Open] is pretty solid, he loves that place.

“But I think there’s a lot of other good players, as well, now. He’s spurred up a lot of incredible young players…he influenced me to become better. He influenced Jordan. He influenced Rory, a bunch of people, everyone out here.

“That’s the cool part is that he’s now seeing [the monster] he created, so it’s funny. But he’s still a 14-time major champion. He knows how to get it done, so it’s going to be a difficult test if we’re going up against him. It will be fun.”

As Harmon alluded, so many youngsters believe now and aren’t encumbered by the scar tissue of Tiger’s past conquests. But while the fear factor is gone, Woods’ will to win his 15th major and his intimate knowledge of Augusta National remains as strong as ever.

Can Tiger Woods win the 83rd U.S. Masters? You wouldn’t bet against it. Golf’s anti-corruption rules mean Fleetwood isn’t actually allowed to have a flutter but as Stenson says, you’d be foolish to write the Big Cat off.

Getty Images

Tiger’s Masters Magic

1997
Woods captures his first major title, a record 12 strokes clear of runner-up Tom Kite, to become the youngest Masters champion aged 21. Like the margin of victory, Tiger’s 270 (−18) aggregate also remains a Masters record but was equalled by Jordan Spieth in 2015. The final round broadcast was seen by an estimated 44 million viewers in the United States alone.

2001
With a two-stroke victory over David Duval at the 65th Masters tournament, Woods (272, -16) completed the “Tiger Slam” having won the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship in 2000. Only Bobby Jones, in 1930, under a different major championship structure has won all four majors in the same year.

2002
With a score of 276 (−12), Woods (pictured above) edged Retief Goosen by three strokes on an Augusta National layout lengthened by 261 metres. It was only the third successful defence of the green jacket following Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966) and Sir Nick Faldo (1989-1990).

2005
Woods donned his fourth green jacket after beating Chris DiMarco at the first hole of sudden death after the American duo had finished a wet-week on 276, -12. Coincidentally, the 69th Masters was the playing swan-song of six-time champion Jack Nicklaus at Augusta National.

The post Can Tiger tame Augusta National once more? His peers certainly think so appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Strege
Two newly-minted 50-year-olds will enter the PGA Tour Champions fray at the Boeing Classic this weekend, each with an impressive resume that includes having tangled with Tiger Woods.

Darren Clarke, who turned 50 on Aug. 14, is a former British Open champion with three PGA Tour and 14 European Tour victories, and is a former European Ryder Cup captain.

He also took down Tiger Woods, 4 and 3, in the final of the WGC-Anderson Consulting Match Play Championship in 2000.

Chris DiMarco, meanwhile, won three PGA Tour events, was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world, and played on two U.S. Ryder Cup teams and two Presidents Cup teams.

DiMarco, who turned 50 on Thursday, also was the unfortunate victim of Woods holing the famous pitch shot from behind the 16th green at the 2005 Masters. DiMarco lost to Woods on the first hole of a playoff.

Neither of them are going to be tournament sharp in the Boeing Classic that begins Friday at the TPC Snoqualmie Ridge east of Seattle.

Clarke, at least, has played six European Tour events this year, though missing the cut in four of them and finishing T61 and 63rd in the other two.

“I think I’ve got to find my feet,” he said when asked whether he has any expectations at the outset of his senior career. “I’ve got to come out and figure out where my game’s at. I’m not really sure because I haven’t been that competitive for that long.

“So figure that out maybe the next couple of weeks and see what I really need to work hard on, work on those areas and then try and improve from there. So I’m not putting any expectation on myself. I just hope that I play reasonably well and see how it goes.”

Clarke could have made his senior debut at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open last week, but opted instead to remain at his home in Bahamas.

RELATED: Smoke from Washington state fires turn air quality ‘unhealthy’ at site of Boeing Classic

“When I had my choice of being on the golf course for my 50th birthday or being on the beach in the Bahamas for my 50th birthday, the beach sort of won that battle,” he said.

“But I’ve been down there again with the family the past three weeks and spent a lot of time on the range working really hard, and I’m trying to get ready.”

DiMarco has played one tournament since he missed the cut in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in May of 2016. He played the KC Golf Classic on the Web.com Tour earlier this month, shot 68-75 and missed the cut.

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The 17-year-old Dubai-based Indian amateur No.1 was two-under at the turn in his opening round at Skokie Country Club but eventually mixed five birdies with as many bogeys (including dropped shots on 16 and 18) to sign for an even par 71. It left the dual Dubai Creek and Emirates GC member, ranked 66^th in the official world amateur rankings, in a 17-way share of 49^th place in the 156-player field.

The leading 44 players and ties after today’s second round advance to Thursday’s final 36 holes of stroke play. Thereafter, the top 16 progress to the ‘Sweet 16’, the historic event’s match play phase to be decided over Friday and Saturday.

Thomas tees it up at 8.40am (5.40pm UAE time) today and surviving the first cut would be another huge confidence boost after he missed the match play phase of The (British) Amateur in Northern Ireland by a solitary stroke before becoming the first Indian to progress to the semifinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur at Flint Hills GC in Kansas last month (he was beaten 5&4 by eventual runner-up, Texan Noah Goodwin).

Thomas moved inside the top 1000 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) on the back of his U.S. Junior Amateur performance. To put his 972^nd rating into context, injury-sidelined former world No.1 Tiger Woods is currently ranked 1046^th.

The Emirates Golf Federation star is five shots adrift of the Western Am’s overnight leaders – Americans Stephen Franken, Dawson Armstrong and Collin Morikawa, Australian Ruben Sondjaja and New Zealander Nick Voke – and a sub-par round is likely to do the job Wednesday. Among other notable scores, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo shot 80 in his first big amateur event while defending champion Dylan Meyer ( Indiana), made two bogeys over his final five holes to finish with a 72. Morikawa is the world No.2 and 2013 Western Am champion while Armstrong captured the 2015 edition of the tournament first played in 1899.

The Western Am is one of the most prestigious events on the amateur calendar. Past champions include Francis Ouimet, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Chris DiMarco, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Woods, Ryan Moore and Danny Lee.

Catch the first round highlights here:

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