THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 25, 1998

Tiger Woods

TIGER WOODS: Well, the thing is I think the overall general public became more aware of it. I have been doing this since I was thirteen years old, doing clinics and talking to kids and just trying to help them out and make the parents aware of things that have been going on in golf and trying to change these things. That was nothing knew to me. I have been doing the same thing since I was a little boy. I think the general public became more aware of it just because of the media coverage. I think because of everything that had happened, how it transpired, what happened at Augusta, the historical past of Augusta, and then everybody writing about it, I think, people started to say, you know what, he can make more of a difference. But, I have been trying to do this all my life. And, it is just one of those things that I am going to keep doing. I have my own foundation. We are doing clinics around the country. Right now we are with the First Tee program right now, trying to get more facilities built for kids to have a chance besides this core sports in America. So, everything is coming along. And, I think as the public becomes more aware of how they can participate and how the kids can get interested in the game, is when I think golf is going to really kick-off.

TIGER WOODS: Right now the First Tee program is exactly what we need to do right now. I don't know whether that is going to be it for 100 years. Who knows. But I think that is what golf needs right now. We need facilities. We need them as quick as possible. We need low-cost equipment as well as balls, that is just the way -- I mean, sets of clubs aren't exactly cheap now. This game is not one you can just go pick a ball up and go play. It is one of those sports that requires a lot of money. And, I think with more facilities being built, I think the cost will be driven down as well as if you can get more practice facilities built, I think, that, and also as well as companies contributing junior clubs. I think that over time, you will see golf turn young.

TIGER WOODS: It is great, but when they get me with these (making camera sounds) on my outswing, I usually flail it somewhere. That is the only hard part. Besides one other thing, too, is nowadays that we have professional autograph seekers out there, who go out there professionally to get autographs; then go sell them for hundreds of dollars. They use kids now. A lot of the kids, you can't distinguish the genuine kids versus the kids who are for hire. And, unfortunately it is happening a lot and I don't know what to do about it. But, you see these guys give out stuff for them to go sign, or get signed. That part is tough. Because it ruins it for everybody.

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, my swing when I started swinging bad I usually get a little long, a little too loose. Long for me is short, parallel, but that is long for me because of my speed. I have shortened up my golf swing again. Made it more how it was at Augusta or at the beginning of this year when I had my swing nice and short, I could zip it out there. Lately, watching my swing, I don't hit it anywhere. I have no speed in my golf swing, kind of losing every ball to the right. When I am swinging short, boom, I hit it out there and I got my distance back.

TIGER WOODS: I always go to every event to win, but you also have to look at what are you are ultimate goals. My ultimate goals are to win Majors. And, it would be nice if I won this tournament. I am not going to say that -- it would be great to win this tournament, but if I don't win, that is fine too. Just as long as my game is peaking for the Majors.

TIGER WOODS: Shortened my swing three years ago.

TIGER WOODS: No. I don't let that happen. What it does tend to do is it tends to get me, I guess, sometimes a little short, a little agitated because as I explained with the autographs seekers, a lot of them are professional and, two, is that the people are so aggressive now. I have little ladies grabbing me say "Sign this now." That can be a problem because the threats I get sometimes via whatever it may be, you don't -- you never know what the situation is going to be. You never know how it can come. Yeah, sometimes I can get a little hairy, but overall, once I get out there I am where I belong. (smiles).

TIGER WOODS: I am much more ahead of schedule than I was last year. My game is -- you can look at my record this year. It is much more consistent. I am in there on every Sunday, I have a chance to win and it wasn't like that last year. I didn't have the game to be in contention every week.

TIGER WOODS: I have learned lot of new shots versus this time last year. I have learned how to play in all different types of conditions; especially the rain. But overall, my whole package is better this year. My swing is more refined. I have learned new shots. My control of emotions as well as control of shots have improved and I am just growing up as a player and that is going to happen for quite sometime.

TIGER WOODS: You love that rivalry stuff, don't you?

TIGER WOODS: No, I don't think so. I don't think there is a rivalry at all between Ernie and I because you can't forget Phil, you can't forget David, you can't forget Justin, Davis. There is so many good young players now and they keep coming up every year. I wouldn't say there is a rivalry between one and two now because there are too many modern players, and because I think of the equipment, because I think of the fitness, the techniques, that you can't have a rivalry anymore. I don't see it, between two players, say, a rivalry between Nicklaus and Watson, I don't think you can see that now because there is too many good players and the guys are going too low nowadays.

TIGER WOODS: No. Definitely didn't play as well as Ernie. That is obvious. Leaving that tournament, yeah, I was disappointed because I didn't play as well as I needed to play. I didn't give myself a chance. I was hitting the ball pretty bad and couldn't control all my shots. That is not how you win on Sunday.

TIGER WOODS: Oh, boy, Ryder Cup Captain? That will make me 40-something --

TIGER WOODS: I guess overall I would like to see myself getting better every year, keep improving and on top of that, I would love to see all the charitable acts I do in the game come to fruition with all the people I am trying to get in the game, the kids, that I am helping and all the other organizations around the country helping. I'd like to see golf become more global, more accessible. That is what I would like to see in 20 years.

TIGER WOODS: I think it started a little bit earlier than that. I played with him, yes, at the U.S. Open that year, but I also played with him-- didn't play with him. I met Ernie in 1994 before I won the Amateur in the Johnnie Walker in Thailand in my mom's home country. I was there on exemption as an amateur. I first met Ernie on the putting green. We just talked for a little bit and from there I think our friendship kind of kicked on. Then it moved and as I got to see him more often, we would talk for a while and because we were both pretty young - obviously he is very young - and I was still an amateur. So he was kind of helping me out with things that he saw, things that he has experienced and just trying to help me out.

TIGER WOODS: Hope to maintain?

TIGER WOODS: Win.

TIGER WOODS: Technically, repeating, but I just want to win.

TIGER WOODS: All you have to do is look at the gallery. Go down to your local driving range and you look at it; that is when you know that it has changed.

TIGER WOODS: It is not only me. It is everybody. It is all the great young players we have in the game. It is programs being either started up or being given a shot in the arm and people are becoming more aware of the game. As people gain an awareness, you are going to see the golf grow.

TIGER WOODS: I don't think anything can be as important as the four Majors. That is just them. They are at another level. But I think this is definitely the best field we play all year besides those tournaments. You look just look right down the list, you see the greatest players in the world here assembled. Yeah, I think it is -- I would have to say it is close to being the fifth major but there are some other tournaments too, WGC tournaments, so, it is right up there and I think it is great for all of us as players, competitors, to have this tournament right before the major, first major of the year because it's a great way to compare ourselves and see where we need improvement, how we going along; are we ready for The Masters and the rest of the year.

TIGER WOODS: I am still the same. I don't really spend a whole lot myself. But, that is just the way I have always been. I think overall the money is great, but I want to associate myself with the companies that are at the top. If you look at all my sponsors, go right down the line, they are quality and that is what I insist on.

TIGER WOODS: To win again?

TIGER WOODS: No, I have won this year. I have been doing pretty good this career.

TIGER WOODS: I don't care what Tour. A win is a win. It would be nice to win out here. Hey, a win is a win. I don't care where you are. Johnnie Walker is a pretty big tournament, whether you guys like to admit it or not.

TIGER WOODS: You know, I think -- I don't know about what other players are going to do. But, I would have to say if we are going to play worldwide like this, I will have to play more of a reduced schedule just so I don't wear out. You are travelling overseas, just going from one week in Asia or Australia or Europe, that wears you out. And you have got to have energy to deal with that and endure that. If we are going abroad a lot, then with the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup involved in there as well, yeah, for myself, I don't know what other players would do-but I would have to play more of a reduced schedule.

TIGER WOODS: Well, unfortunately the incident happened. It is a shame that it happened. But Fuzzy and I have talked and we have reconciled. It is over. It is a done deal. It happened and we have both moved on. He has got his deals that he does, and the things that I do. We both moved on. We both have mutual respect for each other that hasn't changed and I don't think that ever will.

TIGER WOODS: I would have to say the best place to play would probably be Asia as far as people not -- people being very respectful. It is amazing when I go there, there is a crush, but people if you say, you know, I will sign later, they don't ask. They will never ask until that moment in time. That is very nice. That is very nice of them. People here in the states are very aggressive, especially in late afternoons after they have had a few. (Audience laughter.)

TIGER WOODS: If it happens, it happens. I know I am going to do my best to get ready for a tournament and the major, I don't know if we had -- it will be more of a public relations thing than it would be getting ready for a major and I am getting ready more for a major. If he wants to get ready for a major with me and that is it, that is fine. I don't have a problem with that.

TIGER WOODS: I think it is a big surprise that parents push their kids into doing it. That is a shame. That is not the way I was raised. I don't know how all of you were raised, but I was not raised that way. I was raised to be more respectful. And ask instead of, Hey, sign, sign, sign this. That is not the way I was raised. My mom would -- whoo --

TIGER WOODS: Depends. It all depends on sometimes what I say if I can say something, if they will actually take it back and use it, or I think where it starts is in the home, whether the parts will say, hey, this is what happens, this is what happens when you get too unruly. You can't be pushing and shoving like this. Not supposed to happen.

TIGER WOODS: It is going to be great when I go to San Antonio on Monday when I watch my team.

TIGER WOODS: I really don't know yet. We are looking at a few tournaments in Japan that I might come over this year. If it doesn't happen this year, I will definitely come back in the near future because I love Japan. The people are great. And I love the Kobe beef. I have had good experiences there.

TIGER WOODS: I just said that, yeah, definitely a possibility.

TIGER WOODS: Not sure yet. Working on it.

TIGER WOODS: I do. I think it is going to happen a little bit later. I have just started to get out here and travel the world and play different courses and I haven't really -- I have got some things in my head of styles I like and things I want to incorporate into my own course designing, but I have got to play more courses and understand how things are supposed to work on the golf course and drainage and slopes and where you are supposed to position this and -- home here, home there, developer, yeah, area there, there. Things like that I don't know that business yet. But it is definitely something I want to get into. I am very creative. I like to create that way.

TIGER WOODS: I can tell you one thing: When I came out in 1996 actually what surprised me the most was 1995 when I played at Augusta. I was surprised at how short the players hit it out here on Tour. I was very surprised. In college you cannot believe how long the college players hit it. They hit it so much further than the players out here, but they don't control their distances as well so you start backing off. But as modern equipment is taking over, you can blow it down there so far that really it is really not that hard to control the distances. You are not hitting a 5-iron. You are hitting a sand wedge instead of a 5-iron. That is a huge difference, and I think courses either are going to have to be built longer, they are going to have to probably grow rough in and grow it higher so players are going to have to be more conscious of driving the ball straighter which is probably going to take a little speed off of their swing; hence loss of distance. Or something may have to be done with equipment or golf ball. I don't know. But I think if everything stays the same, you are probably going to have to change the golf courses because there is too much money involved in equipment.

TIGER WOODS: What happens, I have been -- I have been laying -- my shaft of my club has been getting too flat on the way down which means I get stuck. I run into myself and I have to flip it out there or else I hit it dead right. So we are trying to get the club more in front of me on the way down that is caused by my backswing, and these are just little things we have always worked on I have always had this problem my entire life. It is becoming a problem less frequent, but I have got to work it out. We have been hitting a lot of balls this week and going to hit a lot more before Augusta to try to completely get that out of my game.

TIGER WOODS: Several things. One is the golden rule the caddie, caddie rule No. 1, never speak unless spoken to. That is rule No. 1. A lot of caddies have a problem with that. 2 is you have got to have the guts to say what is on your mind -- when a player asks you: "What do you think it is? It is a 6 or a 7?" Some caddies will just be you think it is 6, oh, I think it is a 6 too. I know Fluff has helped me out in a number of circumstances where I have been in between clubs and I say enough, what do you think it is. And he will tell me exactly what he thinks it is. Sometimes I will disagree with him. I will say I think it is this. We will talk about it. We will make an understanding. But, nevertheless, a player has to pull the club and the player has to hit it. It takes lot of guts to say what is on your mind when asked, especially down the stretch on Sunday.

TIGER WOODS: I have to explain this as a package because it was one of those things that you can't say it was just the putting, or just the driving. I have to explain the whole package in order for it to work. You see me make a lot of putts. Look at my putts, they were all -- majority of my putts were uphill because I was able to control my irons into the greens. Why was I able to do that? Because I had short irons in, I had wedges in par 5s. The longest iron I think I hit was 6-iron on 10. The last round -- so you look at that. Why did I have those irons? Because I drove the ball great. So you have to look at the whole package. And putting was just a reflection of everything working out from the green all the way -- I am sorry the tee box all the way to the green.

TIGER WOODS: No, I have putted a lot better. But not on those type of greens, though, flat.

TIGER WOODS: You can feel it in your preparation. It is like a boxer, you can feel yourself getting ready and sometimes you don't peak that week. Sometimes you might peak early; sometimes you might peak late, a week or two late. Just one of those things that you hope that you peak at the right time. Sometimes it happens third or fourth round, you put everything together, but then sometimes it is too late. But, hopefully everything will be ready to go on Thursday and he will be hitting on all cylinders.

TIGER WOODS: No, I am not there yet, no.

TIGER WOODS: They already made some changes at Augusta.

TIGER WOODS: They tweak every year. It is just part of the tweaking.

TIGER WOODS: Four seats at Laker games and Bull games, not a bad thing.

TIGER WOODS: Personally?

TIGER WOODS: Take out the slopes. (Audience laughter.)

TIGER WOODS: It is one of those golf courses in which -- unless you are there and you can actually see these putts - grant it, the slopes are severe, but if you look at all the slopes they go up and then they go down. Most of the courses now are -- they go up and they are flat. At Augusta they -- you have got to get it just right and let it fall to the hole. I think that is one thing all players would say or slow down the greens would be nice.