Tiger Woods at the Masters: Golfers share thoughts, stories on golf icon
Tiger Woods at the Masters: Golfers share thoughts, stories on golf icon
Gabe Zaldivar, USA TODAY Tue, April 7, 2026 at 6:12 PM UTC
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Tiger Woods will not be at the Masters Tournament this week, and that fact is being drilled home time and again as golfers talk about the week at hand at Augusta National.
It wasn't too long ago that fans had hoped Woods would make a spirited comeback to these hallowed greens this week. "I want to play. I love the tournament," Woods said during the TGL finals, in reference to the Masters. "I love being there since when I was 19 years old. I'm going to be there either way."
Then came his rollover crash on March 27, which led to an arrest for the golfer on suspicion of DUI. The 50-year-old told his followers on social media that he would need some time away from the sport.
"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," Woods wrote on March 31. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health."
His absence, along with that of Phil Mickelson, who is away due to personal health issues, continues to be a topic of conversation. Here is what is being said.
Tiger Woods said in a statement Tuesday night he is "stepping away" to "seek treatment and focus on my health." Woods' social media message marked his first extensive public comments in the wake of his rollover car crash and subsequent arrest for suspicion of DUI. Woods' prior dominance on the links cannot be understated. Take a look back at the 10 best moments of his career. Keep in mind, this is a subjective list.
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10. "Better than Most" 2001 Players Championship Ask any golfer and they can tell you the exact putt that the words "Better than Most" come from. The iconic putt was great in and of itself, but it was made legendary by analyst Gary Koch's commentary, repeating "Better than Most" over and over with increasing enthusiasm as it got closer and closer to the hole.
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9. 2000 U.S. Open Woods' dominance is well-documented, but it wasn't always. The 2000 U.S. Open was one of the first tournaments where fans started to realize just how much damage Woods could do. After leading by just one shot after the first round, Woods then kicked his game to another gear, leading by six after 36, 10 after 54, and 15 when all was said and done. Woods was the only player in the entire tournament to finish under par. He finished at 12-under.
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8. Woods aces the 16th at 1997 Phoenix Open Often referred to as the "loudest hole in golf," the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is known for producing legendary moments. Of course, Woods had to add himself to that mix. Woods' ace in 1997 sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy, the kind of eruption that would make Shooter McGavin lose his mind.
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7. Just short? 2005 Masters This is arguably the shot that Woods is most known for. Any golf fan can close their eyes and see the ball stop at the lip of the cup, flashing that iconic Nike logo, and leaving the crowd disappointed just moments before it takes one final turn into the cup and sending everyone into hysterics. The fact it happened at Augusta just added to the legend.
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6. 2022 Masters Woods did not win this tournament, but Woods' career isn't all about the wins, it's also about the resilience, the ability to get back up when you get knocked down. Woods was involved in a pretty serious car crash just 14 months prior to this tournament. Somehow though, Woods still managed to make the cut at the Masters, extending his streak of consecutive Masters cuts made to 22, tying him with Fred Couples and Gary Player for the longest such streaks in history.
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5. "Hello, world" 1996 Fresh off winning the U.S. Amateur for the third time in his young career, the golfing world was waiting in anticipation wondering if Woods would remain an amateur. However, it was clear that there was something in the works. After all, Woods' dad, Earl, had secured a five-year, $40 million deal with Nike, which in all likelihood, wasn't a spur of the moment deal. Woods' iconic "I guess, hello world" marked the beginning of what would become the most iconic professional career in golf history.
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4. The "Tiger Slam" 2000-2001 Not many golfers can say they've won a career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods won all four tournaments in a year. Though some skeptics will say that it doesn't count since they didn't all happen in the same calendar year, those people don't have friends, so who cares what they have to say. Woods won all four major tournaments in a row, making him the defending champ at each of the biggest events in golf. That's like being an undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing, but probably a thousand times less likely. It's very likely that we never see another golfer win all four majors in a row. That's how insane this feat truly was.
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3. 2006 Open Championship Though this wasn't the first or even the second time Woods would win the Open Championship, Woods' victory in 2006 was iconic because of what Woods was dealing with at the time. Woods lost his father, Earl, earlier that year. You can see the emotion on Woods' face after the winning putt as he shares an embrace with his caddie.
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2. 1997 Masters Woods was under a lot of pressure prior to this tournament. He was the young up-and-comer that would bring in a new era of golf. But he'd never won a major, he'd yet to make a major impact on the sport. Then the 1997 Masters happened. He won by 12 strokes, and set a then-record four-round score of 270 (-18). Even more iconic was Woods' resilience in the tournament. Through nine holes, Woods carded a 4-over and was struggling immensely. He then shot four birdies and an eagle on the back nine, finishing the first round at 2-under. That was just a taste of all that was to come.
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1. 2019 Masters By 2019, Woods was well past his prime. He wasn't the same dominant force that shook the Earth when he walked by. Woods hadn't won a major in over a decade. Fans had written him off, but Woods wasn't done. It was a flash from the past that had fans giddy with enjoyment. He didn't dominate like fans were accustomed to years prior, but he managed the win anyway. The best part was definitely him embracing his children behind the 18th green, the same place he hugged his parents after his win in 1997. It was really a full circle moment and an exclamation point on one of the greatest careers ever.
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1 / 0Tiger’s Tale: Top 10 moments from 1997 Masters shock to 2019 comeback
Tiger Woods said in a statement Tuesday night he is "stepping away" to "seek treatment and focus on my health." Woods' social media message marked his first extensive public comments in the wake of his rollover car crash and subsequent arrest for suspicion of DUI. Woods' prior dominance on the links cannot be understated. Take a look back at the 10 best moments of his career. Keep in mind, this is a subjective list.
Tiger Woods reactions at the MastersRory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has already hat-tipped golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. On April 5, the Masters defending champion talked about two past winners who will not be at the dinner: Woods and Mickelson, who is dealing with an ongoing personal family health matter.
"Unfortunately, there will be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame, but I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well," McIlroy said, according to ESPN. "They've been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen. But it's going to be a really cool night. I can't wait. I hope everyone enjoys the dinner and enjoys everything that I've selected."
On Tuesday, donning that iconic green jacket, McIlroy addressed reporters. He was asked about what he is going to say at his dinner.
"There's so many legends of the game there," he said. "Obviously, there's two that won't be with us, which is a shame. Hopefully, they will be with us in the future."
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Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood regaled reporters with the first memory he had of the Masters. Back when the 1997 Masters was on, he recalls his dad saying, "This Tiger Woods guy is going to be unbelievable."
"I do literally remember that moment," he said. "That was my first memory."
Jon Rahm
"All I can hope is that he gets the help that he can get and he can come back in a better position after that," Rahm told reporters. "He is arguably the king of comebacks. If there’s somebody that has the mental strength to come back from an issue like that, it will be him."
Golfweek compiled Rahm's whimsical tale of Bernhard Langer once telling a group about a Ryder Cup triumph over a golfer he couldn't recall. Turns out the golfer was Tiger, and he was sitting there for the retelling.
USA TODAY Sports' Blake Toppmeyer
"Tiger playing in this Masters, 13 months after he ruptured his Achilles, could’ve been deemed shocking, or at least impressive for a 50-year-old man whose body has undergone countless surgeries amid a cruel stampede of injuries. Tiger eliminating his chance of playing at the Masters because of his own bad choices comes as no shock at all.
"A skeptic would say rehab won’t take, that it’s all for show, that he’s repeatedly shown us who he is and it’s time we believe him. You can wager on just about anything nowadays, and if a sports handicapper set odds on Tiger’s rehab sticking, the skeptics probably would be listed as the betting favorite.
"This time, Tiger's the underdog, and I'd like to see the underdog prevail."
USA TODAY Sports' Blake Toppmeyer has more on Tiger Woods and why he deserves support at this time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods at the Masters: Live reactions from Augusta golfers
Source: “AOL Sports”
