Stunned, Thrilled & Resigned: Tiger Doing '97 Masters Book

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Stunned because the timing for a book is a bit surprising.

Thrilled because some of the topics mentioned in the release sound as if he'll expand on some of the more interesting thoughts shared with co-author Lorne Rubenstein for a Time interview earlier this year. And Tiger has a lot of fascinating takes on the game he's held back.

Resigned to the idea he's not feeling the itch when someone who doesn't like to look back is agreeing to doing a book reminiscing.

The release posted at TigerWoods.com:

Grand Central Publishing (GCP), a division of Hachette Book Group, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of UNTITLED TIGER WOODS 1997 MASTERS BOOK by sports icon Tiger Woods, co-written with Lorne Rubenstein. Jamie Raab, president and publisher at GCP, negotiated world rights to the book with Mark Steinberg of Excel Sports Management, with Gretchen Young, VP, Executive Editor at GCP editing. The book will be published in hardcover, e-book and audio editions in March 2017 in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Tiger's win at the 1997 Masters.  

Tiger, then only 21, won the 1997 Masters by a historic 12 shots, which remains the widest margin of victory in the tournament's history, making it arguably among the most seminal events in golf. In UNTITLED TIGER WOODS 1997 MASTERS BOOK, Woods will recount, in his own words, his experience of winning his first major, becoming the youngest Masters champion ever. The 1997 Masters was Tiger's first appearance in the tournament as a professional; he had turned pro only the previous August. Tiger was already among the most-watched and closely examined athletes in history. He was the first African-American/Asian player to win the Masters, and this at the Augusta National Golf Club, perhaps the most exclusive club in the world, and one that had in 1990 admitted its first black member. His utter domination of the field after shooting a 4-over-par 40 on the front nine of the first round, and then recovering with a 6-under-par 30 on the back nine, captivated and astonished the golf world and beyond. Tiger has called it the defining tournament of his career, having won 13 more major championships since.  

The book, Woods' first since his 2001 book, "How I Play Golf," will explore Woods' history with the game, the tournament itself, how golf has changed over the last 20 years and what it was like winning.

Hopefully Tiger reads up on the USGA/R&A report saying distances haven't spiked much the last 13 years! We wouldn't want to get our facts wrong!

Woods will open up about his relationship with father Earl Woods, dispel previous misconceptions and will candidly reveal many more stories that have never been told before.

"The 1997 Masters was one of the most important tournaments in my life for many reasons," Tiger said. "I think about the hug with my dad 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."

"It is a great privilege to help bring to light this vivid account by the legendary Tiger Woods of his barrier-breaking win at the 1997 Masters Tournament," Young said of the acquisition. "For the first time he shares with readers the personal, professional and societal challenges he experienced in reaching and winning the tournament, providing keen insight from one of the game's all-time greats on the Masters then and now, as well as on the sport itself."

Maybe a chapter on the changes to Augusta National that resulted from the performance? We can only dream!

Diaz: Bad Sign That Tiger May Not Relish "Show-Off" Chances

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Jaime Diaz at Golf World makes a compelling case with help from Paul Azinger that Tiger's recent wedge chunks on live TV were less problematic because of the mechanics, and more upsetting

Diaz writes:

Amid such an immeasurable mix of physical impairment, psychic wounds and simple entropy, a unified theory that better explains the Tiger conundrum has been lacking. But Paul Azinger, one of the game’s original thinkers and a former major champion, has a profound knack for getting to simple and authentic truths about the game and its players. His big-picture take on Woods: He’s stopped being a show-off.

According to Azinger, all tour pros, and especially the best ones, are show-offs. From an early age, putting their talent on display has garnered them praise, prominence and, most important to a competitive golfer, the admiration (and even awe) of their peers. Years of being reinforced by this process builds tremendous confidence and an abiding gratification. Sometimes great players actually do love the game for itself. Very often, though, what they really love is the feeling they get from successfully showing off.

Report: Tiger May Have Checked Travelocity.com For British Open Pricing Comparison

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And he just loved the prices he saw at the Premier Inn!

Now, we're all excited that Tiger may come back soon and it seems like he is just waiting to feel close to 100%. Shoot, he's even claiming to have an itch to play again, which is 3/4th's of the battle at this point for someone who has been grinding away for twenty years now.

But as much as I respect the reporter and news organization in question (Andrew Both, Reuters), the idea that Tiger has booked a room in Columbus for the Memorial as the presumed location of his comeback sounds a bit premature given reports had him coming back this week or next. Quail Hollow is out and The Players seems highly unlikely at this point given Tiger's comments (Alex Myers' report here).

To put it another way: I know people who ate a cake reserved by Tiger for his Masters week entertainment. The man has people, they play, they book and they prepare in case the Big Cat decides to show up.

The swing at this week's pre-Tiger Jam clinic: 

 

"With friends like Michael, Tiger is all set for detractors."

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Thanks to reader Tom for Marina Hyde's entertaining Guardian look at the most surprising component of Wright Thompson's feature on Tiger's downfall: the comments of Michael Jordan.

Considering the two might have to share a cart at this fall's Ryder Cup--assuming Tiger can fit on the seat next to MJ's dad jeans--the comments were rather strong. Perhaps because they arrived late in the 11,000 word piece they didn't care as much weight, but as Hyde notes...

“What does he do all day?” wonders Jordan, rather unwonderingly. “I don’t know. I haven’t the slightest idea. I don’t know.” Of Woods’s failed marriage, he observes: “It’s a ship he can’t right and he’s never going to.” Alrighty. Might he not find someone else? “I don’t know if he can find that type of happiness.” Oof. There is, of course, a fine line between tough love and toxic buddydom – even if it feels like we crossed it a couple of fairways back.

Tiger Opens Bluejack National: First Round Since Last August

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Well maybe those who don't want to see him tee up before he's absolutely ready may not need to worry about Tiger Woods teeing off for a while, as he revealed Monday's Bluejack National opener was his first since August, 2015.

Then again, as I noted in this week's Forward Press look at the week ahead, anything is possible with a man who showed up at a Masters untested. He has until late Friday afternoon to decide on Quail Hollow, so there is always the chance he enters a favorite tour event next week.

Bob Harig reports from the club home to the first Woods design in North America. It's a redesign of an existing course, opened on what appeared to be a much-needed beautiful day for Houston.

"I'm definitely a little tired but I feel pretty good," Woods said in an interview afterward. "I haven't been out here playing like this. I hadn't played any holes until today. I know people have said I've played holes back at Medalist, but I haven't. This is actually the first time I've played holes since Wyndham. It's been awhile.

A short highlight reel from the opener heavy on Woods, light on good looks at the course. And you may recall the club's short course opened in rather unbelievable fashion.

Tiger's Dilemma: Start Slow Or An All-In Return?

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Being that he's Tiger Woods, an appearance in the Medalist Member-Guest or the Jupiter Four-Ball probably isn't realistic. After all, if he didn't play like Tiger Woods in one of those events, he'd be ridiculed.

But I wonder if I'm the only one struggling with this idea that someone who has just had some major surgeries might just turn up at a big time PGA Tour stop like the Wells Fargo or Players. His agent continues to go with the no timetable answer, and that very well may be true and all of this is premature.

Though now we learn he is signed up for the U.S. Open which doesn't necessarily mean much, except that it is on his radar as a possibility. Maybe he's patterning himself after Hogan's '53 schedule and will keep it light on appearances, but focused on big events and that'll do. But as we discussed on Morning Drive today, the rhythm looks great but the range of motion still understandably limited (note the follow through)...

Stealth Clips: Tiger Gives A Junior Clinic!

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Last year Nike lured Rory McIlroy to Sage Valley for a junior clinic (and arm wrestling), this year they got Tiger Woods to do something people say he never does (I'm sure it has something to do with those daddy demons).

And while the back looks understandably stiff and the head dip is still there in clips only Zapruder could love --here's guessing video was discouraged--the tempo is fluid and the appearance is both a huge step for his image and his effort to come back.

Golf Central's segment on Tiger visiting one of the world's premier junior events.

@tigerwoods at the #SageValley #JuniorInvitational #golf @nikegolf #TW

A video posted by Graham Pocialik (@gtroit) on Apr 21, 2016 at 2:56pm PDT

 

Tiger Can Hit Drivers But He Can't Play The Par-3 Contest!?

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Strange to hear that Tiger's is hitting drivers in his rehab/return to the game but chose not to play the Par-3 contest where nothing more than a wedge is needed.

I certainly understand not wanting to play the Masters until he's tournament ready, but since he was here for the Champions Dinner and Tweeted what fun he had, it wouldn't have been a stretch to play the Par-3.

Tim Rosaforte's Golf Channel report.