By Alex Myers
Tiger Woods spoke some heartfelt words while accepting the Ben Hogan Award at the Golf Writers Association of America dinner on the eve of the Masters. He added some new words to his ever-growing golf lexicon after accepting the green jacket on Sunday.

Several years ago, we put together a list of our favourite “Tigerisms,” ranging from abbreviations for people (“Steiny”) to abbreviations in general (“Traj”). The list is long overdue for an update, but in the meantime, here are five new(er) terms Tiger trotted out at his winning press conference on Sunday.

“Cush”

Definition: Short for cushion. You know, because saying “cushion” is a lot more taxing. Tiger said “cush” three times on Sunday to conserve his energy after an exhausting week.

How Tiger uses it in a sentence: “Birdieing 15 and 16, you know, gave me a nice little cush with the last two holes to play.”

• • •

“Squeezer”

Definition: What Tiger used to call a push-fade, it’s become his go-to shot off the tee when he needs to hit the fairway. Again, another way to conserve energy. Savvy.

How Tiger uses it in a sentence: “Hit a little flat squeezer out there and I did, I just smoked it.”

• • •

“Hooped”

Definition: Holed. Same amount of syllables, so he’s not really gaining anything from this one, but it sounds cooler than “holed.”

How Tiger uses it in a sentence: “As you know, I birdied 13, I birdied 15 with two good shots in there, and almost hooped it at 16.”

• • •

“Whoofed”

Definition: A dog of a shot or an ugly shot. Like the one he hit on 18 when he was just trying to ensure his bogey to win. So in that case, it was so bad, it was actually OK.

How Tiger uses it in a sentence: “I whoofed it and hit it over to the right and I was able to put that ball on the green and two‑putt.”

• • •

“Shapes”

Definition: Short for having the ability to shape shots. Kinda like how “Traj” is short for “Trajectory.”

How Tiger uses it in a sentence: “He’s [Tony Finau] starting to figure out shots and shapes and he’s starting to figure out how to play, and it’s only going to get better.”

That’s a big compliment, Tony. And because your name already ends in a “y,” Tiger doesn’t even have to call you by a nickname. So that’s a plus as well.

The post Masters 2019: 5 words that are officially part of the Tiger Woods lexicon after his winning press conference appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

We don’t know yet, because it’s still plenty early, but it’s possible Tiger Woods’ comeback win at the 2019 Masters could end up as the most written-about golf tournament ever. We say that in part because of the magnitude of a player rebounding from the depths of scandal and painful injury. But also because words are plentiful in the Internet age, and Tiger already inspires more than anyone.

But pictures are different, especially at Augusta National, where cell phones are checked at the door, and the job of capturing history is left to the professionals. On Sunday, Golf Digest photographers Dom Furore, J.D. Cuban, and Christian Iooss were there for every step of Woods’ journey to a 15th major title, producing a collection of images that will carry as much significance, if not more, with time. — Sam Weinman

Beginning the day two shots behind leader Francesco Molinari, Woods made his way to the first tee Sunday morning having not won a major in more than a decade. (Christian Iooss)

He found the fairway off the first tee and settled for par. (Christian Iooss)

After another par at No. 2, Woods teed off on the par-4 third, where he ended up making birdie. (J.D. Cuban)

But bogeys would follow on the difficult par-4 fourth, and another on No. 5 as well. (J.D. Cuban)

On the par-4 ninth, Woods’ approach found the top tier of the green, but he ended up completing an incredible lag putt for par. (J.D. Cuban)

Although he found trouble off the tee on No. 11, Woods carved an approach out of the trees to salvage par. (J.D. Cuban)

While playing partners Molinari and Tony Finau found Rae’s Creek off the 12th tee, Woods’ approach found land, and his par was enough to give him the lead. (Dom Furore)

Woods and caddie Joe LaCava cross the Hogan Bridge en route to the 12th green. (Dom Furore)

The clinching birdie for Woods came on the par-3 16th, where he needed just a short putt for his 2. (Christian Iooss)

Fourteen years since his last Masters, 11 years since his last major, Woods finally is able to celebrate an incredible win on 18. (J.D. Cuban)

Making his way to the scoring area, Woods hugs agent Mark Steinberg. (Dom Furore)

Lastly, he enjoys an embrace with 10-year-old son Charlie, who wasn’t even born the last time he had won a major. (Christian Iooss)

The post Masters 2019: Tiger Woods’ historic final round in pictures appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Dave Kindred
What he couldn’t do, he did. What he would never do, he did. He was left on the bone pile years ago. Early on, in his infant immortal days, golf’s wise men said only a bad marriage or a bad back could stop him. What those pieces of life could not do, it turns out, is keep him tethered to the earth, for now, he has won the Masters again, his fifth Masters, his first since 2005, and we remember that day in ’05, the day the earth moved for Tiger. Or so he said of that little chip from the fringe of the 16th green …

… that rolled down a hill into a valley toward the hole…

… the ball turning on its axis a dimple at a time …

… until it stopped at the hole’s steel-cut edge …

… and we saw the swoosh stop, stop, wait, now, maybe, moving …

“Got a great break on 16,” Woods said of that moment, “didn’t go in the bunker, didn’t go in the rough and somehow an earthquake happened and it fell in the hole.”

Today at the 16th, he was again Tiger Woods, in command of his game and himself, this time perfect, no magic necessary. This time the tee shot at the par 3 landed about halfway down the track of the ’05 chip. It moved on that famous line toward the hole, and wise men might have asked what could ever be better than what happened in ’05? What could be better than a birdie-2 that helped him win back in the day? Well, OK. How about, this time, a hole-in-one?

Almost that good, today’s shot rolled by the top edge and left him a kick-in 2½-footer for a birdie that put him two shots up on everybody, two shots up on men who’d come late throwing eagles at him, two shots up on others who felt his heat and turned away. He kicked that one in at 1:44 p.m. on April 14, 2019, and it might have been in the gloaming of April 10, 2005, for here was Tiger again, “Tiger, tiger, burning bright,” William Blake’s tiger, of whom the poet asked, “What immortal hand or eye/Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”

FEINSTEIN: Tiger Woods should enjoy this win more than any other

At the 16th, one man’s notes read “tee shot perfect, he’s expecting perfect now.” Tiger later said, “I hit some of the best shots on that back nine today. I felt like I just flushed it coming home, which was a nice feeling.”

From there it was only a matter of closing the deal. It says here that no one, save perhaps Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan, has ever been better than Tiger at stepping on a rival’s throat. This Masters was Woods’s 15th major championship, the first since 2008 when he won the U.S. Open limping home on a broken leg. More telling, he won a major for the first time by coming from behind on the last day; the other 14 times, he either led or was tied going into the last round. This time he started the day two shots behind Francesco Molinari.

“To have the opportunity to come back like this,” he said, “it is probably one of the biggest wins I’ve ever had, for sure, because of it.”

Through 11 holes he still trailed Molinari by two shots. On the diabolical 12th, a little par 3 set on the far side of Rae’s Creek, Molinari made a killing mistake. His tee shot fell short and rolled back into the water. In his turn, refusing as always the sucker bet of firing at the far-right Sunday pin position, Woods dropped his tee shot in the dead centre of the green; two putts later, he had come even with Molinari. When Molinari chunked a short chip into the pond fronting the 15th, Woods’ two-putt birdie there gave him the lead for good.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Tiger’s birdie at the 16th was his sixth of the day in a round of 70 for a tournament total of 275, one shot better than Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka, who between them recorded 15 birdies and an eagle. At one point late in the going, the leader board had 10 men separated by two shots: five guys at 12 under, one at 11 under, four at 10 under. “All hell’s breaking loose,” the notes reported, another way of saying every Masters begins on the back nine Sunday.

”There were so many different scenarios that could have transpired,” Woods said. “Leader board was absolutely packed and everyone was playing well. You couldn’t have had more drama than we all had out there, and now I know why I’m balding.” Hold a beat for the laugh, then: “This stuff is hard.”

RELATED: Tiger Woods caddie Joe LaCava on an eventful final round

It was this stuff:

Bubba! Birdie-birdie-eagle! Cantlay! Koepka’s back! Molinari’s wheels coming off! Finau, too! Day! Tiger’s smoothin’ along! Xander! Dustin’s 1 of 5 at 12 under, where’d he come from!?! Bye-bye, Molinari!

Yes, as he’d done in halcyon days when he owned the world, Tiger smoothed along when it mattered most. He let the lesser players find ways to damage themselves. This time, on holes 11 through 17, Woods went par-par-birdie-par-birdie-birdie-par and, when it no longer mattered, a bogey at the 18th where, after the last little putt, he allowed himself, for the first time all day, a moment of celebration. He threw high and wide his arms to the thousands of fans, jubilant and raucous, the air ringing with “Tiger! Tiger!” Coming off the green, he embraced his mother, Tida, and his children, Sam and Charlie, before moving through a handshake line of players celebrating their old hero reborn, Koepka, and Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Mike Weir, Zach Johnson.

Six months ago, Woods said, he began preparing for this Masters. If he is to match Nicklaus’s record 18 majors, the most likely starting place was Augusta National, where he first had historic success, the youngest Masters winner ever, the biggest margin of victory ever. Come this summer, the U.S. Open will be played at another of his favourite places, Pebble Beach.

So, is the Nicklaus record on his mind?

Not now, he said. Not on this great day.

“I’m sure that I’ll probably think about it going down the road.”

The old dad, 43, was happier thinking about Sam, 11, and Charlie, 10.

“For them to be here and see what it’s like to have their dad win a major championship, I hope that’s something they’ll never forget.”

Tiger did know what’s next for him.

“I’m excited,” he said, “about show-and-tell at school.”

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Tiger Woods is nowhere to be seen, it’s starting to rain, Tony Finau’s family waits for him, Justin Thomas comes out of the clubhouse and gets into his car. In the parking lot, the rear hatch of one of the Mercedes courtesy cars is up. It’s Tiger’s car, and Joe LaCava is sitting in the trunk. In the aftermath of Woods’ historic win at Augusta National, his caddie paused to reflect on a wild final round and the road that brought both here.

1. Francesco Molinari’s water ball on 12 was a bit of a shock

LaCava said that Tiger was all business after Molinari, inexplicably, put his tee ball in Rae’s Creek. For LaCava, it wasn’t something he saw coming. Molinari, who’s so steady it’s borderline infuriating, wasn’t a player you’d peg as a candidate to drop a ball in the water on the back nine of a major.

“[Molinari]’s one of those guys, he’s not going to go away,” said Lacava. “I was a little surprised he hit it in there. I was thinking this is a perfect 8 iron for him, it’s probably a smash 9 iron for us. I actually thought he was going to hit not to two feet, but 15 feet left. I was very surprised. Things definitely changed.”

What didn’t change was Woods’ plan. LaCava thought there was a chance Tiger would switch 9 out for 8-iron, but he stuck with his plan, put his approach on the left side of the green, and made par for a two-shot swing that changed the entire tournament.

Dom Furore

2. He’s not ready to talk about Jack Nicklaus’ record

The big Woods conversation that’s been on ice for the past decade is if he’ll beat Nicklaus’ record of 18-majors. What looked like an almost certainty became a certainly not. But now . . . maybe?

“It’s nice to get to 15, 18 isn’t a thought,” said LaCava. “Now 15’s here, let’s get to 16. Is it [the record] in play? Sure. The guy’s 43-years-old, a guy like him could win when they’re 50. Sixteen is the next mission.”

Still, this win feels good, even in the context of all of Tiger’s great wins. “It’s been a long time, lot of question marks, lot of injuries,” said LaCava. “I think 15 is, who knows, looking back 10 years from now, 15 may be the hardest one.”

3. Coming down the stretch, Brooks Koepka was the biggest concern.

The leader board was alarmingly stacked during the back nine on Sunday. Dustin Johnson, Molinari, Xander Schauffele, Jason Day, and others all had legitimate chances to win the Masters. But there was one name that was sticking out to LaCava: Brooks Kopeka.

“You’re watching Brooks because he’s probably going to be the guy who’s going to do something if anyone’s going to do something,” said Lacava. “Brooks had made 5 at 12, but he was hitting everything to 10 feet, so I was thinking, this guy could come in at 14 (under).”

4. He, jokingly, denied Tiger a read on that 18-inch putt for birdie on 16.

That 8-iron Tiger hit into the green on the par-3 16th was absolutely pure. It hit the green and started rolling back towards the hole. Everyone, including Tiger, looked like they thought it was going in. But it missed the cup, leaving Tiger about 18-inches for birdie.

“He said ‘Take a look.’ I said, ‘Take a look? It’s a foot and a half,’” said LaCava, laughing. “He said, ‘Left centre,’ I said ‘Go for it.’”

The putt, obviously, went in.

5. Tiger knew this would happen.

“He’s a very confident person so he always thought he could do it,” said Lacava.

6. Tiger’s scheduling so far this season was helpful Sunday.

Much to the dismay of many Woods fans, he didn’t play the Valspar or Bay Hill this year. Ultimately, it looks like taking some extra rest may have been a good idea for Tiger. “I’m not saying he skipped those because of this, but he’s fresh,” explained LaCava. The caddie said that the 2018 season was about playing tournament golf again, trying to get a win. “This year, let’s play a little less, I’ve won that tournament, I know I can do that, let’s win a major.”

Plan, executed.

7. There are some similarities between this and the last time LaCava was on a winning bag at Augusta National.

For over 20 years, LaCava caddied for Fred Couples. In 1992, Couples won the Masters with LaCava caddying for him. Both Couples and Woods both won with 13 under.

“It’s the same score,” said LaCava. “Raymond was at 11 in the house, so it was a little easier. Fred made a par, so he had a two-stroke lead, just like Tiger did. You still have to finish it off. It was a little tougher with Fred, knowing that pin was in the back. Plus he was in a bunker. I knew Fred’s ball was a little to the right, it’s not that easy of a shot.”

LaCava wasn’t willing to compare the two wins beyond the facts.

8. The advice he gave Tiger on the first tee played out throughout the round.

“On the first tee I told him, ‘Intense but loose,’” said LaCava. “Don’t carry the weight of the world.” It’s a delicate balance, to make sure you’re fired up enough to hit the big shots, but you don’t want to be so overwhelmed by the moment that you tighten up and lose your ability to swing the golf club as you know how to.

“I think he did that,” said LaCava. “I thought he was pretty loose. But I didn’t want him to lose the intensity. At the same time, this isn’t the end all. Not ‘Let’s just have fun no matter what happens’—don’t get me wrong. But be loose.”

9. One of the most important moments was on 9.

Generally, most people wouldn’t point to Tiger two-putting the ninth green as one of the biggest moments of the day. But for LaCava, that two-putt was huge. “He’s the best at the game, but people don’t realize how hard that was,” explained LaCava. “That was big. Giving us momentum, shooting under par on the front nine.

10. There’s a part of Joe that always knew this was going to happen.

“I don’t know if I dreamt about it, but I pictured it. I wouldn’t have stuck around if I didn’t think he was capable of pulling something like this off. He is Tiger Woods after all, right?”

The post Masters 2019: Tiger Woods caddie Joe LaCava on the advice he gave on the first tee, and nine other takeaways from his boss’ win appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By John Feinstein
At 1:40 p.m. on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Augusta National Golf Club, Tiger Woods became Tiger Woods again.

No fireworks went off and no confetti descended from the sky. Two months shy of 11 years after his last major win, Woods took the outright lead in the final round of the Masters by tapping in an 18-inch birdie putt on the 15th hole.

Perhaps to acknowledge the fact that 43-year-old Tiger Woods is a long way—in more ways than one—from the 32-year-old Tiger Woods who won the U.S. Open on a broken leg for his 14th major victory, the short putt did a 360 around the hole before dropping in.

It didn’t matter.

No one, including Woods, is going to tell you that the Woods who won his fifth Masters and 15th major title on Sunday is anywhere close to the Woods who won his fourth Masters here 14 years ago, or the Woods who won that U.S. Open at Torrey Pines for major No. 14.

That doesn’t matter, either.

And even though there are already those screeching that Woods’ victory completes the greatest comeback in the history of sports—it’s not, think Ben Hogan among others—it is enough to say that Woods’ victory completes a remarkable comeback after the battles he has gone through with his body and his psyche in recent years.

Woods did something Sunday he had never done before in his extraordinary career—he came from behind to win a major in the final round. He did so by shooting a solid, grinding 70, not spectacular but plenty good enough when third-round leader Francesco Molinari—who had gone 49 holes without a bogey dating to Thursday’s first round—came apart with two awful mistakes, finding the water at both 12 and 15, making double-bogeys that turned what had once been a three-shot lead into a final round 74 and a T-5 finish.

Others made runs on Sunday, but Woods was resolute. There were no fist-pumping bombs, but he didn’t need them. After bogeying the 10th, he played mistake-free golf the rest of the way, making two-putt birdies at 13 and 15, then hitting his tee shot to five-feet at 16 for his sixth birdie of the day.

His bogey at 18, was—more or less planned—he wanted to make certain he would make no more than 5 and played the hole very carefully.

The birdie at 16 had given him a two-shot lead, and there was no way he was going to spit the bit on the last two holes (a forgotten part of his eventual 2005 Masters victory) with another green jacket awaiting him. At that moment, the only thing that could stop him were the thunderstorms that were closing in on the golf course.

Just as Woods’ return to prominence last year made the golf world happy—earlier in the week, Woods spoke eloquently as he received the Ben Hogan Award, given by the Golf Writers Association of America to the player who has overcome a physical handicap or serious injury to remain active in golf—his finally winning a 15th major will make those who follow the sport ecstatic.

Kevin C. Cox

There was, quite literally, cheering in the media building as Woods took control of the tournament. The TV networks, whose ratings double when Woods is on a leader board, will be ecstatic. Many—if not most—golf fans and certainly a vast majority watching in person Sunday, love the fact that Woods is back.

And why not?

At his best, Woods was the most dominant and dynamic player in the history of the game. He had won 14 majors and 79 tournaments before he became a non-stop tabloid headline after a car accident led to revelations that he had been a serial adulterer.

Then came the injuries—back problems, knee problems and the various swing changes and swing coaches. Until last September, when he won the Tour Championship, Woods had gone more than five years without winning a tournament of any kind.

But the fusion surgery he had in 2017 finally solved his back problems and he began to play well again in 2018. Of course, every time he contended anywhere, his media minions screamed, “He’s back!”

He wasn’t then, and he would be the first to tell you that. Then, after missing the cut comfortably in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock in June, he briefly held the lead on Sunday at the Open Championship before fading on the back nine to a tie for sixth. The winner that day was Molinari.

Three weeks later, in the final round of the PGA, he shot a final-round 64, but came up two shots shy of catching Brooks Koepka. His win at the Tour Championship was treated as if it WAS a major victory. Woods was so drained by the experience that he played horribly in the Ryder Cup a week later and went 0-4.

There are no qualifiers attached to this victory. Woods was resolute throughout the week—trailing by three after the first round; one after the second and two after the third.

In a sense, his finishing bogey at 18 was the perfect finish. With a two-shot lead, Woods didn’t need to do anything risky and he didn’t, although he clearly wanted to make his 10-foot par putt.

Almost 11 years after major No. 14, major No. 15 was a tap-in.

The Tiger Woods who accepted the green jacket from last year’s champion, Patrick Reed is very different from the one who let then-nemesis Phil Mickelson slip the jacket onto his shoulders in 2005.

He has more children—two—and considerably less hair. More important perhaps, this Tiger Woods enjoyed this victory far more than the 14 that came before.

In the past, as he piled up major titles—14 in 11-year-plus, he EXPECTED to win. There were a few minutes of happiness and then it was on to the next thing.

After his victory in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in 2002—the site of the next major, May’s PGA Championship—Woods’ victory speech was short and sweet.

With his arm around then-girlfriend Elin Nordegren, he said, “I’m going to go have a couple of beers, kick back for a couple days and then get ready for Muirfield.” That was the site of that year’s Open Championship.

He will do a lot more than have a couple of beers to celebrate this victory.

The joy on his face after he tapped in the final putt was evidence of how much Woods has changed since his last major win. The host of players who waited for him in the scoring area to congratulate him as he came off the 18th green was another sign of how much he has changed.

Woods’ relationship with his fellow players was always distant. That began to change when he was a vice-captain for the 2016 Ryder Cup team. A reticent Ryder Cup player in the past, Woods threw himself into the task of trying to help captain Davis Love III make captains picks and formulate lineups.

One of the players he was assigned to work with during the week of the event was Reed. Which was why, when Reed presented him with the green jacket Sunday, the warmth and the hug were genuine.

In his victory press conference Woods used words like, “blessed,” “fortunate,” “lucky,” and “amazing.” Those words were almost never a part of his vocabulary in the past.

He was funny—even self-deprecating. Talking about what the back nine leaderboard, which included five players tied for the lead at one point, he shook his head and said, “No wonder I’m balding.”

He began by saying, “This is unreal to be honest with you.”

Woods never considered any of his first 79 victories unreal. They were what was supposed to happen.

Woods is not—and never will be—the player who completely dominated the sport beginning with his 12-shot victory here in 1997 and continuing through his 2008 win at Torrey Pines. He averaged 294.5 yards off the tee this week—44th in the field in driving distance. He didn’t make a single eagle—or a single double-bogey.

The most iconic athletes figure out how to win when they’ve lost their fastball. Woods didn’t just lose his fastball, he completely lost the ability to play the game. Talking about his kids on Sunday, he said, “To them, golf was just something that caused me a lot of pain.”

Not anymore. Sunday, Woods came all the way back. Last year, he was good—at times very good. Sunday, 22 years after he first became a one-name star, he became great again.

As a golfer, this may not have been the transcendent player of old. But this was a much improved person—one who, perhaps for the first time—truly appreciated the greatness of Tiger Woods.

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By John Strege
Eyes tend to glaze over when watching anything for five hours or more, even history, yet the aftermath of Tiger Woods’ victory in the Masters on Sunday warranted consideration for how CBS and Golf Channel might respond.

Both responded memorably. CBS’ anchor Jim Nantz, after Woods’ final putt fell, called it “the return to glory,” then took a page from Vin Scully’s playbook. He let the scene unfold without comment, a rarity in sports television addicted to excessive chatter.

Finally, and perfectly, when Woods was done hugging son Charlie, daughter Sam and mother Kultida, Nantz said, “I never thought we could see anything that would rival the hug with his father. We just did.”

Even the green jacket ceremony in Butler Cabin was worthwhile. Augusta National chairmen tend to be understated, but Fred Ridley acknowledged Woods’ victory for what it was, “one of the most amazing weeks in our history,” he said.

During the telecast, when Woods birdied the 16th hole to take a two-stroke lead, the venerable Verne Lundquist responded as one might expect, with a trademark phrase: “I’m compelled to say, oh my goodness.”

When Woods was walking up the 18th fairway, Nantz offered context to what viewers were witnessing. “This is going to be one of the great comebacks, the completion of one of the great comebacks in any sport all time.”

Nantz began his Masters broadcast career in 1986, when Jack Nicklaus, at 46, won it for the 16th time. Brandel Chamblee referenced it on Golf Channel’s post-tournament show.

“[CBS analyst] Ken Venturi, famously after picking up Jim Nantz off his perch at the 16th green in 1986, said, ‘you’ll live your whole lifetime and you’ll never see a better Masters than this,’” Chamblee said. “And Jim Nantz was on the call, and if the late Ken Venturi were alive today, he might amend that and say this tops them all.

“[Tiger] continues to stretch the limits of what one imagines is possible. You can read, re-read, talk, write about Tiger all your life and never get beyond the fact that he’s just an enigma. How can so many gifts, so absolute, belong to one man?”

David Duval called it “one of those days that 20 years down the road you’re going to be asked, where were you when? That’s what this is.

“It’s utterly remarkable, what he’s gone through the last 18 months — the time, the patience, the practice, the dedication, the not giving up, believing in what you’re doing, owning everything that’s transpired in the last decade, 15 years.”

Frank Nobilo cited old boxing saying. “It’s not how many times you get knocked down,” he said, “it’s how many times you get up. He was done. HIs career was done. He could barely walk. That alone was incredible. We will never be able to put what’s happened into context I don’t think for quite a while.”

Golf Channel even was able to reach by phone Jack Nicklaus, who had been bonefishing in the Bahamas. He got to shore in time to see Tiger win his 15th major, re-igniting his quest to equal or surpass Nicklaus’ 18 majors.

“The next two majors are at Bethpage, where he’s won, and Pebble Beach, where he’s won,” Nicklaus said. “He’s got me shaking in my boots, guys.”

Probably not. But if Nicklaus was guilty of a bit of it, Woods’ victory otherwise was immune to hyperbole.

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By Christopher Powers
Tiger Woods did it. He climbed back to the top of the mountain, completing what is arguably the greatest comeback story in the history of sports on Sunday at Augusta National. With a final-round 70, Woods won the 15th major championship of his career, as well as his fifth green jacket. He’s now one green jacket shy of Jack Nicklaus’ record total of six, and three majors shy of Nicklaus’ all-time major record of 18. To say the sports world thought this was impossible not that long ago is the understatement of the century.

But everyone couldn’t be happier to be wrong. Woods’ victory has yielded congratulations from sports figures, political figures, pop culture figures and everyone else you can think of on social media, all of them offering their tribute to the 43-year-old. During a time when folks can’t seem to agree on anything, literally everyone and their mother is thrilled for the 15-time major winner. Here’s a sampling of the endless amount of social media reactions to Woods’ win at the 83rd Masters.

That’s how you overcome adversity….Congratulations TIGER WOODS on winning #TheMasters

— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) April 14, 2019

A big “well done” from me to @TigerWoods! I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic!!! ??@TheMasters

— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) April 14, 2019

Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 14, 2019

Greatest comeback story in sports! Congrats @TigerWoods Let me hold one of those 5 jackets one time!

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) April 14, 2019

Congrats Tiger! What a performance..

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) April 14, 2019

“Do you believe in redemption???….YES!” The GOAT is back. #Tiger #masters2019

— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) April 14, 2019

Speechless @TigerWoods

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) April 14, 2019

Amazing to see @TigerWoods win the @TheMasters again!! Thankful to get to see it in person… congratulations!! #Needs4MoreMajors

— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) April 14, 2019

While it wasn't the round I had hoped it would be, it is one that I'll never forget. This @TheMasters week has been incredible, thank you for all of the support this week. Congratulations, @TigerWoods! #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/FdZmvHI5jl

— Tony Finau Golf (@tonyfinaugolf) April 14, 2019

What a beautiful day it’s been watching #TheMasters and #TigerWoods win. As a father I couldn’t help but cry when he hugged his kids. #comeback #memories pic.twitter.com/CJB3Q2DgTR

— Nick Carter (@nickcarter) April 14, 2019

.@TigerWoods Holy hell. What an amazing achievement

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) April 14, 2019

Historical day in golf. A few years ago I didn’t think this would happen. Never doubt greatness ? Congrats @TigerWoods – Masters Champion again.

— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) April 14, 2019

Never give up.

Congratulations, Tiger. https://t.co/W2DtHF0XxU

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) April 14, 2019

I SALUTE YOU @TigerWoods #Inspired

— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 14, 2019

Well done, @tigerwoods! A 5th Green Jacket after having to go through 4 back surgeries is very impressive. ? 18 ?, ? 15 ?. It’s going to be interesting! @TheMasters

— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) April 14, 2019

Nobody holds the entire viewing audience of their sport in the palm of their hand the way Tiger Woods does. It’s truly incredible. #TheMasters

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 14, 2019

A big BIG congratulations to @TigerWoods for winning the Masters!! The roar of the Tiger is back!

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 14, 2019

I have to type this one more time, just so I'm sure I believe it: TIGER WOODS JUST WON THE MASTERS.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 14, 2019

Congratulations to @TigerWoods., a truly Great Champion!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2019

The leaderboard packed with the best players in the world. The setting historic. The conditions dramatic. The play exceptional. And in the end, Tiger Woods won. If that wasn’t the best day in golf history it was pretty damn close. #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/ZvCj7J83jN

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 14, 2019

Thanks JG you was Tiger Goodluck Charm https://t.co/6NNUzTaANU

— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) April 14, 2019

Champions locker room celebrating @TigerWoods @TheMasters victory!? #tiger #masters #victory pic.twitter.com/uTVEtsKS60

— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) April 14, 2019

Tiger Wins.

@Bucks playoff opener.

GOT Final Season begins. #dreamsunday # pic.twitter.com/VULjQOFEZf

— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 14, 2019

Tiger Wins. #GOT Is back. WHAT A DAY! pic.twitter.com/DEhbdAGNNk

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 14, 2019

Just did it. #TheMasters

— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) April 14, 2019

Tigers DM’s are blowing up

— David Spade (@DavidSpade) April 14, 2019

2019 the year of the comeback! #masters @TigerWoods congratulations!!!

— kevin jonas (@kevinjonas) April 14, 2019

What a comeback!!! Congrats @GCTigerTracker on winning @TheMasters #green pic.twitter.com/m9NJ8O5y1G

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) April 14, 2019

ITS REAL!!!!! Ahhhhh https://t.co/xZXL0WUAD4

— Michelle Wie (@MichelleWieWest) April 14, 2019

I think I speak for a lot of the golf world when I say… We’re happy for you TW! @TigerWoods what a victory ??

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) April 14, 2019

I am literally in tears watching @TigerWoods this is Greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Wow Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank you buddy.

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 14, 2019

What a great moment for the game of golf. I’m so impressed by @TigerWoods' incredible performance, and I'm so happy for him to capture another Green Jacket. Truly a special day that will go down in history. Congratulations, Tiger! #rematch ?

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) April 14, 2019

TIGER ?????? #masters2019

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 14, 2019

Tiger woods the ?… He never quit after a lot of adversity, stayed true to the game that he loves!! RESPECT?

— Kev (@KevKnox) April 14, 2019

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So it should come as no surprise that the swoosh had a commemorative ad ready to roll after the final putt dropped, capitalizing on this historic moment. The video, which Nike tweeted out with the caption “Never stop chasing your crazy dream #justdoit,” will hit you in every feel imaginable. Enjoy, and have the tissues ready:

https://twitter.com/Nike/status/1117497381832933376

Yep, can’t make a commercial any better than that. It’s been a long time since that win at Torrey Pines in 2008, and this video not only captures the journey from then until now nicely, but it also captures his entire journey from when he was a child to now as well. And they did it all in 52 seconds, ending it perfectly with a young Woods stating “I’m gonna beat Jack Nicklaus.” Two years ago, that was not only unlikely, but it was virtually impossible. His career was all but over, and just being able to walk again without feeling pain would have been a victory. Now, he’s a 15-time major champion, putting him just three away from Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18. With Bethpage Black and Pebble Beach hosting the next two majors, two venues Woods has won majors at before, he’s got a chance to get that much closer to the record in 2019.

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By Alex Myers
Tiger Woods’ 15th major title was different from the previous 14 for a variety of obvious reasons. It’s his first major win coming from behind after 54 holes, his first major win with a fused back, and his first major win since he’s had two kids. But there was a less obvious reason as well. Although, it was pretty obvious if you watched closely.

Woods’ gum chomping drew attention all week. And although it’s certainly not the first time he’s chewed the sticky stuff during a tournament (We did some digging into this important matter on Friday when Golf Twitter took notice), it’s definitely the first time he’s worked his jaw like that from start to finish.

So why did Tiger do it? Was he looking to “stimulate the front cortex” like Phil Mickelson? Did he do it to stay calm under pressure? Is he hooked on Bubblicious (Don’t laugh, I had a nasty habit once)? Or did caddie Joe LaCava just keep forgetting to pack pimento cheese sandwiches in his golf bag? Turns out, the answer was none of the above.

“Well, I’m chomping on this gum because I usually get hungry, I keep eating so much,” Woods explained. “And it curbs my appetite a little bit, which is nice.”

OK then. Savvy move. I do that sometimes at night to keep from snacking. And for the record, Woods wasn’t chewing any gum at his winning press conference. We’re guessing that wouldn’t have gone over well with Augusta National’s members.

Anyway, from fist pumps to wearing Sunday red, other golfers have been copying this guy for more than two decades. In other words, you can count on seeing a lot more masticating on the course when you play this season.

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At 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, Tiger Woods rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th, stepping it in circa 2005, like the mock turtleneck he was wearing, before the ball reached the hole. He was tied for the lead deep into the third round of the Masters.

A full five minutes later, up on the 18th green, the scoreboard operators flipped the white square on Woods’ line to a red “11” through 16. The thousands encircling the putting surface went nuts.

The last five groups Saturday at Augusta National included Woods and Ian Poulter; Justin Harding and Xander Schauffele; Louis Oosthuizen and Dustin Johnson; Brooks Koepka and Adam Scott; and Francesco Molinari and Jason Day, all starting the day within a shot of one another and with 21 major championship titles between them.

Of course, Woods has 14 of them, a number he’s been stuck on for a decade. Maybe not much longer.

What was it like to follow those 10 players, including THAT man, all afternoon? Let’s have a listen:

1:56 p.m.: An official slides a placard with the name ‘Tiger Woods” into place atop a post on the first tee. Ian Poulter is next. A “54” next to Woods’ name indicates when he registered in the 87-man field. Poulter did so later, his number being a 79. Nine minutes until tee time and the duo putt on the practice green behind the first tee.

2 p.m.: The air is thick and humid, and there are 20 or so steps between the green and the tee box. Poulter wipes the sweat from his brow with a towel before making his way down the roped-off gauntlet, acknowledging the crowd as he does. Woods is expressionless.

2:05 p.m.: Woods goes 3-wood, Poulter driver and the two chat as they walk off the tee. Woods takes a few swigs of water. Both find the fairway and green in regulation, each two-putting for par. Poulter the Peacock seems to relish the attention.

2:24 p.m.: Navigating Augusta National is half the battle. At any other tournament, media is allowed inside the ropes. That’ll get you kicked out here, so I follow the walkways across the first, ninth and eighth fairways to get to the par-5 second. As big as the crowds following Woods and Poulter are—four- and five-people deep in spots—there’s a surprising amount of open space here, providing some terrific vantage points. Disappointing pars for both on No. 2, which leads me to ditch them for now.

David Cannon/Getty Images

2:33 p.m.: The scoreboard behind the third tee, which is remarkably close to the seventh hole, shows Tony Finau’s sizzling start—four birdies in his first six holes to tie for the lead at seven under. Fans have been well-behaved so far, though one runs afoul of a security guard. Said guard snaps a picture of the man’s badge as he admonishes him.

2:42 p.m.: Schauffele and Harding are two names that seem out place given their company, though Schauffele has shown some moxie in majors. “Fore right!” Harding shouts from the third tee.

2:46 p.m.: Scott has opened with a birdie, Koepka a bogey, as the two-man board shows near the bottom of the hill on the second hole as they stride down the fairway.

2:50 p.m.: A spot between the right side of No. 2 green and No. 3 tee proves an underrated viewing location, letting you can see parts of three holes with the seventh green close by as well. Bryson DeChambeau lets out a sigh as he walks to the eighth tee, while Justin Thomas, now five under for the week and within striking distance of the lead, looks focused, ignoring the patrons seeking high-five. Meanwhile, Finau’s eagle at No. 8 is posted, bringing him to nine under and alone in the lead. No one seems to notice much.

2:58 p.m.: In the right greenside bunker with his second shot on No. 2, Scott slaps his leg in disgust when his pitch scoots past the hole, then he misses the 11-footer for birdie. Missed opportunity given his angle to the tricky back-left hole location that’s just four paces from the edge. Koepka does not miss the opportunity, earning a big cheer in the process for his bird.

3:03 p.m.: After having scrambled across the walkway on the third fairway and up to the green, I see the adjacent leader board shows Schauffele and Harding have made birdies there. Rickie Fowler’s name comes down from the 10th spot and up goes Webb Simpson’s, showing him through 14 holes and now eight under. Moments later, Koepka and Scott each nearly drive the green, but only Koepka gets up-and-down for birdie with a tasty pitch that settles three feet away. Though there’s a good crowd perched right of the green, maybe 100 others are walking along with this group. The big white leader board, meanwhile, shows Tiger has bogeyed the fifth for a third straight day.

3:14 p.m.: A vent in the ground seems to indicate the Augusta National’s famous Sub-Air system is in full blow. That’s how much rain the course has gotten. Speaking of blowing it, Scott gets a nice cheer for sticking it to seven feet on No. 4 but misses the seemingly easy putt. Guess that 45-minute session with the putter that’s NOT in his bag didn’t help much.

3:16 p.m.: A HUGE roar comes from the direction of the 13th hole. Simpson has made eagle to get into contention, now seven under for the week.

3:30 p.m.: The scoreboard left of the fifth green shows that Woods just birdied the seventh hole, his second in a row.

3:39 p.m.: Koepka stuffs his tee shot on the elevated par-3 sixth to four feet. Birdie. You hang a right from the tee and there’s a nice perch from which to see 16. Then it’s down the hill and onward.

3:50 p.m.: Another roar from the direction of 13. Or 15. Both holes provide plenty. Meanwhile, Schauffele has bogeyed No. 7.

4 p.m.: Cutting across the par-5 eighth fairway to get to the ninth, I see that Johnson has uncorked a drive 315 yards up the fairway. He’d make birdie, but he’s just one under on the day. The front nine is continuing to prove difficult. Meanwhile, Woods is tapping in his par putt on 9 and the traffic jam of people trying to get to the 10th tee is akin to Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

4:05 p.m.: Finau’s birdie on No. 13 has gone up on the leader boards. He’s now seven under for the day and the first player to reach 10 under for the week. Other updates include Molinari and Day each making birdie on No. 6, Koepka with a bogey on No. 7 and Schauffele a birdie on No. 8. It’s now Finau leading by one over Schauffele and Simpson (who is already in the clubhouse at nine under after a tidy 64); by two over Molinari, Woods and Johnson, who has just birdied the eighth; and three over Day, Koepka, Scott and Poulter. So this is how people used to keep track, eh?

4:20 p.m.: After choosing the less-crowded left side of the 10th fairway (veteran move), I watch between the trees as Woods narrowly misses a 35-footer for birdie. “Here comes the swarm,” one of the security personnel says. No sign of the guy who almost mistakenly slide tackled TW the day before. I do see Poulter’s caddie walking amongst the crowd as he chats with a friend. No need to schlep back to the 11th tee. Joe LaCava, however, goes with Woods.

4:25 p.m.: There’s a middle-aged guy in a walking boot dragging along. With said boot in a plastic merchandise bag. Hey, whatever you gotta do to see Tiger, who gets up close and personal with the fans after blowing his tee shot right on the 11th. Luckily for the 14-time major champion, he’s got a wide-open view of the green, knocks it on and two-putts.

4:35 p.m.: The scoreboard left of the 11th green shows Molinari’s birdie on the eighth. He’s now nine under and one back. Fowler has also birdied 15 to get to eight under.

4:37 p.m.: Here we go. Tiger goes long, Poulter short. Someone yells “Baba Booey!” I guess Augusta National isn’t immune, either. Both manage par. Impressive the Postman is hanging with Tiger.

4:55 p.m.: A man is laying down in the gap between the 14th and 15th fairways. Security approaches (eyes are everywhere) but he wards them off as he waits for water. Back to the golf, Woods’ third to the par-5 13th after laying up short of Rae’s Creek skips to six feet on a back pin. Another birdie. The scoreboard behind 14 tee shows Finau at 11 under through 17 holes; Molinari, Schauffele and Woods all at nine under; Koepka and Fowler at eight under; and Scott, Day and Johnson at seven under. You can also see parts of neighbouring Augusta Country Club through the trees in the distance. That’s if you can see over the crowd, most of which seems to be with (surprise!) Woods’ group.

5:10 p.m.: Finau is in the house at 11 under. Schauffele birdies 13 to get within one.

5:15 p.m.: Simpson, who started the day at one under, and Finau, who began at three under are the biggest movers. Johnson lays up short and right on 13 and pitches close to set up a tap-in birdie. His mom watches from afar and notices that Woods is climbing the board, too. At the same time, Molinari birdies 12 with barely a ripple of noise. He’s now 10 under and charging.

Mike Ehrmann

5:33 p.m.: The 15th green and 16th tee are the epicentres, grandstands filled to the brim, and for obvious reasons. Someone notes that Poulter is playing “all right” alongside Tiger. The leader board is still crowded and another notes they want “anyone but Patrick Reed” to win. Wish granted, and Woods chips from behind 15 green to two feet to set up another birdie. He’s now 10 under and one back.

5:36 p.m.: Schnuffele’s second at 15 rolls back into the water, leading to a bogey. “Oooh!” Seconds later, a roar. Tiger has hit it to seven feet on 16. Birdie and tied for the lead. There’s a frenzy developing.

6 p.m.: The back nine isn’t done delivering. Koepka eagles 15 with a towering iron to 10 feet to get to 10 under and within one. Almost simultaneously, Molinari birdies 14 to get to 12 under to extend the lead.

6:06 p.m.: Day follows Schauffele into the water on 15 and makes a crushing double. He’s the only player inside the top 10 who would fail to break par on a perfect day of scoring.

6:13 p.m.: Meanwhile, Molinari delivers another dagger with a birdie on 15. He’s now 13 under, which is where he will finish, parring his way in to shoot 66 and get two clear of Finau and Woods, three better than Koepka and with Simpson and Poulter four back.

What an afternoon. Now, are you ready for Sunday?

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