The only surprise was the timing. Confirmation that Tiger Woods was withdrawing from the 87th Masters arrived early on Sunday morning. It had been clear during the closing embers of play on Saturday that Woods would be unable to carry on.
It felt sadly poetic that within hours of Woods’s enforced exit being announced, news broke that a ball he gave to a youngster at the 1997 Masters had sold for $64,000.
The starting bid at auction had been just $500. “Unless Tiger himself or his caddie Fluff intentionally saved a ball from this historic final round [which we doubt], this may be the only confirmed golf ball from the final round of Tiger Woods’ first major championship victory,” said Golden Age Auctions in a statement. The way we were.
Statistics will show Woods departed Augusta having completed seven holes of his third round. At that point, he was last in the field at nine over par. The history books will also note that Woods has matched a tournament record – already held by Gary Player and Fred Couples – of 23 successive Masters cuts survived. He has never failed to progress past 36 holes as a professional.
Perhaps Woods had those figures in mind. Maybe his burning motivation is attached to reaching what landmarks remain within his grasp. He made the cut here but was already 15 shots off the lead. Winning, Woods’s prime aspiration throughout a celebrated career, was not part of the equation.
“I am disappointed to have to WD due to re-aggravating my plantar fasciitis,” Woods said in a social media post. “Thank you to the fans and the Masters who have shown me such love and support.”
They also offered sympathy. Saturday afternoon, in wind and rain, became a tough watch for fans of Woods. His double bogeys at the 15th and 16th included horrible shots, more fitting of a mid-handicap golfer. Woods offered inspiration by making the cut. He soon cut a sorry figure.
The extreme conditions that have disrupted this Masters provides a mitigating factor for those who believe Woods can still compete or even feature over 72 holes in esteemed company. “His short game looked tremendous,” said Jason Day. “It’s just the weather got him. That’s just how it is.
“It wasn’t the perfect conditions for him to be able to at least get through the round. It’s disappointing, but that’s just kind of, I think, where we’re at with how his body is right now.” Can anybody reasonably think it will get any better?
The 47-year-old tied 45th at the Genesis Invitational in January – breaking 70 twice – and was a respectable 47th in the Masters of 2022. Wider analysis, though, is troubling: he withdrew during last year’s US PGA Championship, skipped the US Open entirely and lasted just 36 holes at the Open Championship in St Andrews.
Woods’s scenario is complicated by the fact he can clearly play golf. The technical aspects of this sport are far from beyond him. As Rory McIlroy observed even before a ball was struck in this major, it is the associated exertions that pose such a significant obstacle.
“If he didn’t have to walk up these hills and have all of that, I’d say he’d be one of the favourites,” McIlroy said. “I mean, he’s got all of the shots. It’s just that physical limitation of walking 72 holes, especially on a golf course as hilly as this.
“You never count Tiger out. He can do incredible things. You watch him on the range and you watch him hit chips and putts, and he’s got all the aspects of the game that you need to succeed around this place. It’s just the toll it takes on his body to compete over 72 holes.” Or, as it transpired, 43.
Plantar fasciitis is the injury that caused Woods to miss the Hero World Challenge, a tournament he hosts, in December. It causes severe pain in the foot and heel. Woods has consistently been adamant that he will not appear in tournament golf using a buggy, which presumably would spare him discomfort.
There has to be serious doubt over Woods entering the US PGA Championship, to be held in the chilly climes of upstate New York in May. The US Open, in his native Southern California a month later, will surely be a target. So, too, the Open at Royal Liverpool in July. Woods won his third and, it seems safe to assume, final Claret Jug at Hoylake in 2006.
McIlroy’s departure, at five over par having missed the cut, was considerably more of a surprise than anything which transpired with Woods. “I felt like he was going to have a good week this week,” said Shane Lowry of his close friend, after completing a delayed third round.
“I spent a lot of time with him over the last couple of weeks. But that’s golf. A lot of times you don’t get what you deserve. It’s obviously been very tough for him. I’ll catch up with him next week. I’m sure he’ll get over it. I’m sure he’s fine.”
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Tiger Woods makes early Masters exit after cutting sorry figure at Augusta - The Guardian
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