by A defiant Tiger Woods insisted it was a “good week” for him overall at the Masters despite finishing 60th and last of those who made the cut.
The five-time champion warmed up for his final round on Sunday in the company of his son Charlie, receiving swing tips from the 15-year-old on the range, but struggled again out on the course, in the end a five-over position -par. 77 to finish on +16 for the tournament.
It was Woods’ worst ever score at Augusta and four shots worse than his playing partner Neal Shipley, the last amateur in the field.
However, Woods insisted he was happy overall with how little he had in the run-up to this year’s Masters, adding that he was looking forward to some “longer practice sessions” before the PGA USA next month at Valhalla.
“It was a good week,” he said. “I think it was a good fight on Thursday and Friday when I came in here, not having played the whole tournament for a long time.”
Woods had struggled to make a record 24th cut at the Masters, shooting 73 and 72 in tough, windy conditions on Thursday and Friday. But after making headlines by saying he felt he could win a sixth green jacket, he slumped to an 82 on Saturday, his worst round ever in a major.
Woods was seen on the range before his final round in the company of his son Charlie. The teenager, himself an accomplished golfer, helped his father work through some swing drills. Woods said he would continue to “grind” in the run-up to next month’s US PGA Championship in Valhalla. He knows the Louisville, Kentucky course well, having won the PGA title there 24 years ago. He added that he was also looking forward to the US Open at Pinehurst in June and the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in July.
“I think the rest of the majors are definitely possible,” he said. “Hopefully my body will cooperate for the next three.”
If there was a lasting image of Woods from this year’s Masters, it may have been that of the 15-time major champion, stone-faced, on his ‘shameful drive’ back to the fifth heat on Sunday.
He had to get a lift. Woods had sliced his first drive right into the trees, played temporarily, then he got his first ball, only to consider it unplayable. With no safe place to drop off, the only course of action was to jump into a dinghy back to the tee.
For Woods, who has always refused to use any motor aid, despite his litany of injuries, despite the bone fusion, who once famously roasted John Daly for using a buggy at the PGA Championship in 2019, giving knowing he won the 2008 US Open with a broken leg would be a bitter pill to swallow. A sign not only that he was playing poorly by his standards, but also a symbolic sign of weakness.
Woods framed his next week as a positive one. It can certainly be seen that way. Outside of one competitive round all year, he arrived at Augusta broken and out of shape and made his 24th consecutive cut on one of the toughest courses in the world.
“Unfortunately yesterday [Saturday] it didn’t quite come out the way I wanted. And today it’s my turn … on the way to Tom [Kim, who shot 66] playing, I thought I was in my system. Unfortunately, I didn’t produce it,” Woods said.
It really was a great few moments, listening to Woods in the shade of the Augusta clubhouse. Some might accuse him of being delusional. But he clearly still believes he can do it. After posting 73 and 72 in his opening two rounds, Woods raised eyebrows by saying he felt he could contend for a sixth Green Jacket. “I’m right there,” he said.
A few people laughed at that pride in light of what happened next. Woods’ third-round 82 – his worst round ever at Augusta – sent him down the field. His final-round 77 on Sunday saw him finish at 16-over-par for the tournament, the last of the 60 players to make the cut from the 89-man starting field.
That was four shots worse than his playing partner Neal Shipley, the last amateur in the field, with whom he had started the day level. Incidentally, 22-year-old Shipley, who is much closer in age to Woods’ son Charlie than Woods himself, had a dream day, starting when he went up to put himself in Tiger and his son knew the range beforehand – Charlie was giving his father swing tips – and ended it in the Butler’s Cabin when the Silver Cup was awarded as the low amateur finish of the competition.
But no one should make fun of Woods. He has been in that cabin many times. He won the Silver Cup back in 1995, not to mention five Green Jackets. And while some might think he was drowning in his own rubbish thinking he could finish sixth this year, it was that exact mindset that enabled him to win the 2019 Masters after after ten years of injury, when no one prayed for him.
It was difficult at times watching him struggle over the weekend, sweating profusely as he limped around, a shadow of his former self. But it was also possible to assess the graft, the willpower. Held by the crowds who stood to applaud him on all hot and green, he only rolled back the years a handful of times, hitting the home flag on 14 to cheers. But he stuck to it. Woods and Shipley played much faster than Kim and Denny McCarthy in the group behind. And that was despite Woods’ motoring trip back to the tee box on five.
Woods said he would keep grinding away in the run-up to next month’s US PGA at Valhalla. He knows the Kentucky course well, having won the PGA title there 24 years ago. He added that he was also looking forward to the US Open at Pinehurst in June and the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. “I just have to keep lifting, keep the motor going, keep the body moving, keep getting stronger, keep progressing. Hopefully the practice sessions will continue to go much longer.” Maybe it’s delusional. Maybe his ego is writing checks that his body can’t cash. But Woods clearly still believes.
