AUGUSTA, Georgia: Sporting icon Tiger Woods turned back time on Sunday in winning his fifth Masters, the first golf Major of the season played this week at the Augusta National Golf Club, an incredible 22 years after his first victory here in 1997 and 14 years after his last victory on the hallowed greens.
In a historic feat on Sunday, the 43-year-old golfer – a physical miracle after four back surgeries and four knee operations – and one who had endured a series of personal vicissitudes over the past 11 years (it’s also been 11 years since he won his last Major in 2008) – came from behind to win his 15th Major by one shot, once again bringing spectators to their feet shouting enthusiastically when he sank his last putt on the 18th green on a day marked by wind and light rain.
His earlier Masters victories came in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
Woods set or tied 27 records when he won the 1997 Masters by 12 shots, including being the youngest winner at 21 years, 3 months, which still stands, the Augusta Chronicle, Augusta National’s official press partner, reports. Now he also has the record for length of time between Masters victories at 14 years. Jack Nicklaus has the record for the length between the first victory and his last one, at 23 years. Woods went 22 years between his first and fifth wins.
Finishing a whopping 13 under par, Woods – wearing a red shirt, black slacks and a black cap – beat out his countrymen Dustin Johnson (-12), Xander Schauffele (-12) and Brooks Koepka (-12) to win his 15th tourney.
“It was an epic Sunday and a great day for golf,” said Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “It’s one of the most amazing days in our history.”
Rallying to win major championships was not in Woods’ DNA before Sunday, Augusta Chronicle further reports. In all 14 of his previous major wins, he was either tied or in the lead after 54 holes. This time, he was two behind Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who outdueled Woods to win the British Open last year.
Woods evened the score Sunday, firing 2-under-par 70 and finishing at 13-under 275. He became the first $2 million man ($2,070,000 for the winner) in Masters history.
It was also fitting that on Sunday Tiger, the richest golfer in the history of the sport, also became the one who has won the most money at Augusta, ahead of his countryman Phil Mickelson. His record prize money this year adds to the almost $7.5 million he had pocketed over the course of his 22 previous outings here.
“Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!” the crowd thundered at the 18th hole after he sank his last putt for the win. Woods, outwardly calm and cool the entire day up to then, let it all hang out at that point, throwing up his arms and yelling for joy, along with the hundreds of fans clustered around he green.
Every time he does something well, whatever it is, you hear a shout, said golfer Koepka earlier regarding the cheers for Woods that periodically shook the atmosphere at Augusta on the last few holes.
The day began with Italy’s Francesco Molinari in the lead and sharing the top slot with Woods and US golfer Tony Finau. Molinari at one point got three strokes ahead, but the water hazards at August swallowed one of his shots, thus drowning his chances to take the tourney.
In a post-game television interview, Woods said: “I’m a little hoarse from yelling … When I tapped the (last) putt in, I don’t know what I did; I know I screamed. To have my kids there, it’s come full circle. My dad was there in ’97 (at his first Masters win), and now I’m the dad.”
Sunday’s Masters was one of the most emotional in memory. Up until the last few holes, a dozen players – all tightly packed in the scoring – had a chance to win, including Americans Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler, as well as Spain’s Jon Rahm, all at -10.
The 2019 Masters will go down in history as the year of Tiger’s comeback, after finding himself in 1,199th place in the world rankings just 16 months ago, whereas now he’s sitting pretty at the peak of world golf.
To quote Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post: “Tiger Woods, flawed father of two, is a Masters champion again. Different than the man – the kid – who won the first time. But, now we know, maybe capable of doing it again.”
