The perfect swing

Tiger Woods on why the 1997 Masters was one of the most important tournaments in his life

April 29, 2017 09:06 pm | Updated May 25, 2021 08:55 am IST

In sport, as in life, there are events that hold a special place, carrying high recall value. The more you think about it, it fills every corner of your memory with awe. How did it all happen? How could it all happen? You wonder.

Rarely do these questions get answered. Sometimes even after 20 years!

What Tiger Woods pulled off on that Sunday evening at the Augusta National Golf Club in 1997, was historic. Not just because he was the first black to win the Masters title. Not because it was his first ‘Major’ as a professional at the age of 21. Not because he won by a whopping 12-stroke margin to set a new record for the winning score.

It was something the world of sport, golf in particular, saw as a comprehensive evidence of greatness in the making. It turned out to be the beginning of a great run for Woods who went on to add 13 more Majors till 2008. Thereafter, a series of injuries, needing surgeries, stalled his march and prevented him from breaking Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 majors.

Historic triumph

Early last year, Woods decided to pen down his part of the story about the historic ’97 triumph. He said, “The 1997 Masters was one of the most important tournaments in my life for many reasons. I think about the hug with my dad (after the final putt) and all the events that went on that week. A lot of people know generally about that tournament, but this gives me a chance to tell in detail what happened on and off the course.”

The much-awaited book is finally out.

Unprecedented brings out Woods’ perspective as he takes the reader on a journey aptly titled “The Masters and Me.” Co-authored with Lorne Rubenstein, a Canadian golf journalist, the book is more than just the tale of the historic triumph.

Woods has chosen to share a lot from his highly successful days as a junior and an amateur golfer. He opens up on the events that led to his decision to turn pro in August 1996 and soon comes to each day of the Masters’ week that culminated with his record-breaking feat on Sunday.

In fact, the book offers a peek into several unknown personal, professional and social challenges Woods encountered. The champion golfer touches upon how he was bullied in his growing up years because he stuttered, the bond he shared with his father Earl, the racial slur he faced from time to time and much more.

Graciously, Woods acknowledges the encouragement received during his early playing days from the greats of the game like Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer, Raymond Floyd and his “buddy”, Mark O Meara.

Woods starts his narration by describing what he was going through as he covered the distance between the ninth green and the 10th tee during the first round of the 1997 Masters. At this point, Woods had taken 40 strokes that was, by two shots, the worst score for the opening nine holes for a Masters’ winner.

After a short walk to the 10th tee, Woods unleashed a two-iron down the fairway. As Woods describes the moment, “There, that was it. My pace picked up as I walked to my ball, and from a perfect position in the fairway, I hit an eight-iron within fifteen feet of the hole, and made a birdie putt.

“Sometimes in golf everything can turn around for better or worse, with one swing. This was the swing that was going to turn it around for me.”

Woods chooses to refer to the front-nine 40 a few more times as he reinforces the importance of the moment before he struck that game-changing tee-shot on the 10th. As it turns out, Woods produces a 30 on the back-nine. On the next two days, he fires rounds of 66 and 65 to open a huge nine-stroke lead. Relentlessly, Woods seals the title with a record 12-stroke margin, aware that he could not afford to miss the last putt.

Personal demons

Woods goes beyond his conquests, dotted with 14 majors as once predicted by his father, and reveals how he fast-tracked his return from injuries that needed four knee-surgeries and three back operations until 2015.

Though Woods keeps his much-speculated personal life out of the book, he does mention ex-wife Elin Nordegren in the Postscript. He says, “I betrayed her. My dishonesty and selfishness caused her intense pain. My regret will last a lifetime.”

In retrospect, what golf writer Dan Jenkins said about Woods in 2001 sounds astonishingly remarkable. He said, “We’re talking about a truly remarkable athlete here. Something the game has never seen. Only two things can stop Tiger — injury or a bad marriage.”

As a final thought, Woods reveals his acceptance of the reality he faces today. He signs off saying, “I also realize, physically, I can’t necessarily do what I want to do. My parents told me it was okay for me to fail, as long as I gave it everything I had. I have given it everything I have.”

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