As each day on the sports calendar comes and goes without a major sporting event, the sports stoppage amid the coronavirus pandemic feels increasingly endless.
Last week was supposed to be the Final Four. This weekend was supposed to be the Masters.
But with no sports being played, we were left to look back on Tiger Woods’ incredible performance at the 2019 Masters, which snapped an 11-year major-less drought.
In a Sunday interview with CBS’ Jim Nantz, Tiger described his celebration with his family after clinching the green jacket last year. Visibly emotional, Tiger explained how that moment was especially memorable for him and his family because it was the first time his kids got a chance to witness Vintage Tiger in person … at a major.
.@TigerWoods walking off the 18th green to celebrate his return to glory with his family is an image we’ll never forget.
One year later, he reflects on just how much it all means to him. #MastersRewind pic.twitter.com/9DfmU8k2pL
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 12, 2020
Tiger said:
“It was so special for all of us because they had seen me — people know and laugh and joke that with my kids, I was a YouTube golfer. I wasn’t the golfer that played golf anymore. I was that dude on TV that they could make fun of. ‘Oh, look at the shot you could hit then. Look at the shot you could do then.’ Well, they got a chance to witness it.
“Not only that, but the year prior, I took the lead at The Open Championship at Carnoustie — the one Fran (Francesco Molinari) won — and they felt the energy from the crowd. And they also saw how hard it was on me when I blew it. I took the lead there and ended up blowing it. Fran did exactly what he needed to do and won the tournament. I did not. And the hug I got there behind the 18th green up on the catwalk, that was a harder hug than I have ever gotten from my kids ’cause they knew I was crushed. That I had just blown this tournament.
“And now, a year later, here we are at Augusta National. They are witnessing their father win a golf tournament in person because they have never really witnessed me win a golf tournament in person. On top of that, it happens to be the Masters. A major. Hadn’t won a major in God knows when — not in their lifetime. For them to see it, feel it, experience it, understand it … but now, because they’re of age, they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives.”
The Masters has been rescheduled for later in the year with a target date of Nov. 9-15.
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