A look at Tiger Woods’ first Masters win in 1997

“No offence to Jack Nicklaus or anyone else but I don’t think anybody has played as well as Tiger played in that particular time,” said Tiger Woods’ former swing instructor Butch Harmon. “He didn’t have any weaknesses. And I don’t think we can say that about anyone else who has ever played the game.”

Those words of praise were justified for a player as remarkably talented as Woods was in his prime. The late 1990s and the new millennium saw a changing of the guard as far as golf was concerned, with the American skyrocketing to success thanks to a string of impressive performances.

Woods became a staple in the game and even against the likes of Phil Mickelson and David Duval, he has frequently demonstrated that he is one of the best around.

Tiger-mania has been rife for over two decades ago now, and with news that he could make a surprise appearance at this year’s Masters, we thought now would be the time to look at where it all started. While his dramatic comeback arc of 2019 was so magical, shocking the Masters odds to prove all his doubters wrong, we’re looking at his first green jacket back in 1997. When a fresh faced ‘smart-aleck’ rocked up to the Augusta course and wrote his name in the history books. Read on, as we look at Tiger Woods’ first Masters success. 

An outside chance?

At just 21 years old, there was plenty of hype about Woods establishing himself in the professional circuit. While dominating at amateur level, winning consecutive junior titles, he made his Masters debut as an 18-year-old, finishing 41^st. He had attracted plenty of attention, but if he was to win a first major competition he’d have to be at his best. 

A final round to remember

It took just 270 magnificent strokes to secure victory. Woods was like a man possessed, with defending champion Nick Faldo almost in awe of the youngster as he won emphatically by 12 strokes. 

It took until the 13^th hole for Woods to finally establish a lead, but once he did, he ran with it and carried all the momentum through for the victory. Tom Kite finished second, but despite a good showing himself, the former US Open winner admitted he never really got close, as Augusta’s green jacket engulfed the now iconic red polo Woods would wear during his prime. “He beat all of us mortals,” Kite said.

Thrust into the spotlight 

And just like that, Woods was a superstar. The fantastic performance ensured he was one of the favourites in the golf betting tips for the next majors, become world number one, and rose to superstardom within the next few years. He would capture a second green jacket in 2001, and then a third the year after, whilst also winning the US Open and two PGA Championships along the way. 

While Mickelson perhaps had the tournament of his life to pip Woods to the 2004 Masters by three strokes, he was back a year later to win for the fourth time. As impressive as the victories were, you wonder how different things might have been if Woods hadn’t had that purple patch of form in 1997, or whether his run to the top was inevitable either way.