In his heyday, Tiger Woods was alone in the world. Mainly because the world of golf was his. In the practice areas or even once the game started, his presence was intimidating. He looked at no one, put away his smile and never mingled with other golfers. Too busy winning. Today, he is ready to give back, but he still wants to win.
From now on, Woods is part of the band. He is at the heart of a frank camaraderie with many players on the PGA Tour circuit. More isolated and withdrawn at the time when he took top honors at almost every tournament, the greatest player in the history of golf feels invested with a new mission.
Woods has always been good at his sport. The ratings and sales of the Nike company can attest to this. Now Woods is good for other players.
Fred Couples, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy mold his close guard. Nevertheless, since his return in 2018 and 2019, Woods has been different. He seems lighter, more candid, happier, if need be. He is especially more accessible for players from the new generation, probably all too young to remember his first of five victories at the Masters Tournament in 1997.
“This tournament allows us to share our knowledge,” he said during a long press conference on Tuesday morning on the sidelines of the first major tournament of the season. “I pass on my knowledge more now. »
At the same time, Woods is still learning from oldies, like Couples, his great friend. “Old people know how to play this ground. »
Quietly, at 47 years old, the Tiger will soon enter this generation belonging more to the past than to the future. “I know more players on the Champions Tour than on the current Tour,” he joked.
However, with this exceptional experience accumulated over the past 25 years, Woods is undoubtedly the best person to guide the great champions of today and tomorrow. He wants to get involved in their success and above all to rub shoulders with them as much as possible to show them the way, especially on a course like that of the Augusta National.
He also praised McIlroy for a long time, to whom he is very close. “He’s going to get there,” he quipped of whether the North Scotsman would end up becoming the sixth player in history to win a Grand Slam. ” It’s a question of time. He has everything it takes to win here. He knows how to play this ground. »
Even if this kind of comment may seem trivial, the Tiger of yesteryear would not have mentioned the success of a rival, or he would have been very concise in his answer. In fact, since the controversy surrounding the arrival of the LIV Golf Tour, Woods has stood up as the ambassador he is and should be.
He has always been an unparalleled inspiration to all golfers. However, having become more accessible and sensitive to the fate of his contemporaries offers a whole new perspective on the legacy he could leave.
“It’s a dream come true to share the pitch with him,” Tom Kim, 20, said at a press conference.
The 19th player in the world spent Monday training with his idol. And he learned a lot. “Just the work around the greens. The blows, the positions in which he puts himself to practice. You understand why he was so successful. »
Kim enjoyed privileged access that was unobtainable just a decade ago.
Woods is aging, beat up, and far from being in full control of his faculties. However, we must never forget that this exceptional athlete won the United States Open with a broken leg and a green jacket when no one expected it.
Did he think about quitting? Hard to say. One thing is certain, he never knows if his next start at the Masters Tournament will be his last. “Last year, I didn’t know if I was going to play again. I don’t know how many I have left,” the American explained.
He has played only one tournament this season. It was the Genesis Invitation, at the end of February. And it didn’t look bad. He resisted the cut, he finished the tournament under par, in addition to teasing McIlroy and Thomas, two of the most powerful hitters in the world, with similar, sometimes superior tee shots. Woods slammed eight balls from over 300 yards in the opening round.
“I always wanted to win. And it is still the case today. That’s what defined my career. »
On a course as special as Augusta National, anything can happen, and only a select group of former champions or veterans can truly deal with the imponderables that come with this course. “You never know what can happen on this ground. There is no ground that is more variable and that is more penalizing if you miss by only one yard. If Woods manages to stand out, it will be thanks to his experience and his increased knowledge of the course.
Last year, when he came back to Georgia, he resisted the cut. “My game is better than last year. My stamina is better,” he said.
He’s not one of the favorites to win the tournament, but as he recalled, “people didn’t think [he was] a threat in 2019 and it ended pretty well,” he said. he said with a big smile.
If he gets his hands on his sixth green jacket, he will earn his 83rd career victory. It would be a record. He is tied with Sam Snead with 82.
Despite the euphoria that can be created by a possible victory, success is now measured by the simple possibility of still enjoying your passion: “I want to enjoy the fact of playing. […] I am not where I would like to be physically, but I am happy to be here. It will never be like before and I understand that. It’s different, but I’ve always enjoyed training and playing. It is a different joy. »
