MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 4, 2023

Tiger Woods

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, this is always such a special pleasure to welcome back to the media center our five-time Masters Champion, Mr. Tiger Woods. Most notably among the green jacket wins was that historic win in 1997 and the comeback of comeback wins in 2019. But last year was also extraordinarily special. You came to Augusta, I believe, just 14 months after that horrific accident, posting rounds of 71, 74 to play the weekend. What an extraordinary accomplishment.

TIGER WOODS: Thank you. And then it got cold. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: Going forward, sir, from your perspective, I know there's healing, more healing, more PT, but how would you describe what success and satisfaction on the golf course is going to be in the coming years for you.

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think that just the appreciation of being able to play the game. I've said this before, prior to my back fusion, I didn't know that I was going to be able to play the game at any kind of level. I was able to do that and come back and play and happened to win a major along the way.

Then obviously with the accident, it's been a tough, tough road, and again, it's the appreciation of being able to play this game. And then to be able to come here and play at Augusta National, it's such a special place and it means so much to me in my heart to be able to come here and play this golf course and just appreciate the memories that I've had here, whether it's in competition or the practice rounds or the stories.

There are so many -- so much of my life has been here at Augusta National, and again just so excited to be back here again and compete and play.

Q. You've talked about the success this game has given you, especially here, and it's also given you a lot of joy over the years, and I guess those are two different things. It's harder for you now, obviously. How do you find joy and joyful moments with golf now?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think that it is different. I've always enjoyed the seclusion of practicing and getting ready for events, and then obviously taking what I have done in practice into game time and be able to display that. It's harder now. I don't play as many tournaments, and I don't practice as much as I used to. I'm limited in what I can do.

But the joy is different now. I've been able to spend more time with my son, and we've been able to create our own memories out there. And to share some of the things that my dad, what I experienced with my dad, the late-night putting or practice sessions that we did at the Navy Golf Course, I'm doing with my son. It's incredible, the bonding and the moments that come because of this sport.

So the joy, it's different. I'm not able to compete and play as many tournaments or do the things I've been able to do over the years. But to be able to still share this game and share some memories and create new memories with my son and also pass on some of the things that I've learned -- I've learned a lot of things in this game, so to pass that on to him and others has been fantastic.

Q. When you're playing this course, does it ever cross your mind: This could be the last time?

TIGER WOODS: Yes. I didn't know, last year was kind of -- I didn't know if I was going to play again at that time. For some reason everything kind of came together and I pushed it a little bit and I was able to make the cut, which was nice.

Yeah, I don't know how many more I have in me. So just to be able to appreciate the time that I have here and cherish the memories. But still, to just look at the golf course, it looks like it's been here for over a hundred years and hasn't changed, and each and every year we come here, everything has changed since I first played here.

But it's really neat to be able to come here and play this golf course and see all the past champions. I know more guys on the Champions Tour than I do the regular tour. To be able to see them again and catch up with these guys, it's -- and again, look at my last couple days, playing with Fred. I mean, it's the best. We don't get a chance to play very often. He was like my dad on Tour when I first came out here. And to be able to see him at 63 years old pumping it out there, having a great time, it's been the best.

Q. You always talked about W whenever we talk to you about tournaments, and you've had so many fantastic achievements across the globe. Where does the made cut last year stand and compare to everything that you have done?

TIGER WOODS: Well, it's different. I didn't win the tournament, but for me to be able to come back and play was a small victory in itself.

Yeah, I still would have liked to have gotten the W, but I didn't, but I think I got my own smaller version of that, to be able to come back and just be able to play. I had a little time off there before; I had not played in a while, and to come out, I know the golf course and I know where to miss and I know where to hit it. I was able to do that and somehow shoot under par and make it to the weekend. It was a little tough on that Saturday.

Q. Have you seen the forecast for this week?

TIGER WOODS: Oh, yeah, I've seen it. Yeah. (Laughter.)

Q. You weren't heartened by that, I take it. Also there's a short list here of guys who have been able to win back-to-back. And besides the obvious gifts of talent, what's required to do that here, and do you see any of that in Scottie?

TIGER WOODS: What has allowed some of us to defend the title is understanding how to play it. It's very rare to see a guy that was a first-timer and come out and win. I think it dates back to maybe Craig Stadler, I think.

But Scottie knows how to play this golf course. Having Ted on the bag helps, who was with Bubba for a couple of his wins. Understanding the golf course, I'm sure he leans on Ted a lot and Ted understands how to play the golf course.

I think the teamwork of player and caddie is so important here because there's so many variables that go on, the lies, the wind, the gust, and knowledge of the golf course. There's so many things that can happen, and talking through each and every shot, we just don't go out there and say, yeah, you know, I have 152 yards, just go ahead and hit it. It doesn't really work out that way. For some reason, this golf course, everything -- the only level spot there is on the tee boxes.

After that, you couldn't draw up a golf course that has more variable winds and more penalties for a shot that is one yard off. A shot that is one yard can mean 40, 50 feet on a putt. It's just understanding that, having that patience and that knowledge. You look at guys who have won back-to-back, have all been pretty special players.

Q. Rory McIlroy has spoken of the fondness and the relationship and friendship that he has and built with you and has appreciated much of the advice that you have given. As someone who has won here, won the Grand Slam, what would you say to him as he tries to join that exclusive club this week?

TIGER WOODS: He will. It's just a matter of time. Rory has the talent. He has the game. He has all the tools to win here. It's just a matter of time.

A lot of things have to happen to win at this golf course. A lot of things have to go right. I think Rory has shown over the years he's learned how to play this golf course, and you just have to understand how to play it.

He's been there. Last year he made a great run, put himself there. But I think that it's just a matter of time, whether it's this year or next or whenever it comes, he will get it done, and he will have a career Grand Slam. It's just what year it will be; it will definitely happen.

Q. Speaking of Rory, he was just in here talking about how you have all the shots and everything, but the mobility, can you give us a sense of where you are mobility-wise?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, mobility, it's not where I would like it, but it's -- as I sit here, I've said to you guys before, I'm very lucky to have this leg; it's mine. Yes, it had been altered and there's some hardware in there, but it's still mine. It has been tough and will always be tough. The ability and endurance of what my leg will do going forward will never be the same. I understand that.

That's why I can't prepare and play as many tournaments as I like, but that's my future, and that's okay. I'm okay with that.

Q. How much hardware is in there?

TIGER WOODS: How much hard what?

Q. Hardware.

TIGER WOODS: There's a lot (laughter).

Q. Of all the practice rounds you've played with people over the years, do you think the guys you're playing with now, Tom, Rory, J.T. later, do you think they look at you as a threat in terms of the tournament, and should they?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I don't know if -- threat or not, I just think it's understanding, picking some guys' brains and figuring out what they need to do to win this tournament.

Hey, I was lucky enough to have played with Freddie and Raymond my first year, and Seve and Ollie. That was incredible. And then Jack and Arnold, the Par 3 Contest with those guys.

That's what this tournament allows us to do, is pass on knowledge and gain knowledge from the past and apply it. Whether I'm a threat to them or not, who knows. People probably didn't think I was a threat in 2019 either but kind of turned out okay.

Q. How much knowledge do you share that you maybe you wouldn't ten years ago?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I'm probably sharing more and more knowledge now because of the fact that I was always asking guys how to play this golf course. So it was that transition where I was asking all the guys how to play this golf course, and then now they are asking me how to play.

Again, it's one of the neat things about this tournament and the history. It's to be able to see the different generations and be able to be a part of that, and as I said, playing -- you go back to '95 and playing with Freddie and Raymond. I still to this day -- Fred texts me almost every day. It's one of those neat things to build these memories in these practice rounds and at this tournament.

And as I said earlier, this tournament has meant so much to me in my life. I have so many great memories here, and looking forward to another great week.

Q. I love this idea of knowledge share and learning from the guys that have gone before. Can you give us some example of maybe a situation or particular instance that we can relate to on what you've learned or what you've shared?

TIGER WOODS: Well, let's go back to playing with Fred and Raymond. So playing No. 2 right, the back left pin. There has been -- there was a moment in time when the gallery was not there on the second shot in the landing area next to the green, and there was a time, as of right now, there's the gallery there. And Raymond says -- I said, "Raymond, what do you hit to this back left pin?"

"Well, you hit it right over at them, and then right before it lands, you yell 'fore.'" (Laughter) Things like that are kind of cool. And to have Raymond go around this golf course -- that's one of the reasons I learned how to chip with a 4-iron. The grain is different now than it was then. It's a lot thicker now and a lot more sticky than it used to be. But Raymond showed me how to use a 4-iron around this golf course. And to listen to him describe how to use that club and the shots, the 8-iron, how he hits that shot and chips it from right here and he'll put a cut spin on this one and he'll put a draw spin on this one, he'll make this one hold against the hill.

And then playing with Seve and Ollie and describing the same thing. I mean, it gives me chills just thinking about that, because that is invaluable knowledge and is one of the reasons why I was able to win here early, but also, then again, was why I've had short-game success over my career because I was able to pick those guys's brains early in my career and then apply.

Q. For someone who has created so many roars on the second nine on Sunday, do you think we'll get away from that on 13, and what are your overall thoughts on what they have done?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I think it will be very similar to what happened in 2002 with the changes. They were so dramatic on some of the holes, the dramatic lengthening that we were all kind of astounded by just how far this golf course was now playing, but then as years passed, it became a moot point. Guys with more athleticism, technology, and the average number of carry has gone up dramatically. So from 2002 to present day, those changes, it seemed like a moot point.

13 is kind of what that dramatic change was in 2002. It seems dramatic to us right now, but if these guys keep getting longer, they keep getting taller and more athletic and keep hitting the ball further; that hole is going to play I think with a driver and a mid-iron.

But again, I think similar to 2002, that changed there, and like the change at 11, pushing the hole back, or 18, I think there would be more -- there would be less 3s and 7s on 13 and there will be more 4s and 5s. I think that's probably the best way to describe the hole.

Especially with the forecast coming up here, with the rain and the wind, and if it happens to blow north, it's right in our faces. So I know they were trying to push the tee up maybe a little bit, but still we're not going to be able to hit it around the corner and get it down there. The days of me hitting a 3-wood and an 8-iron there are long gone.

Q. This time last year, you said you definitely would not be here unless you thought you had a good chance of winning the tournament. Does that still stand? And accompanying to that, do you feel your physical conditioning with your leg, can you compare where you are this year to a year ago?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I think my game is better than it was last year at this particular time. I think my endurance is better. But it aches a little bit more than it did last year just because at that particular time when I came back, I really had not pushed it that often. And I had a little window in which I did push it and was able to come back.

Fast-forwarding, I didn't really play a whole lot afterwards. Took a little bit to recover from the event.

I played in February at L.A. and then took a little time off before getting ready for this. You know, I just have to be cognizant of how much I can push it. Like Rory was saying, I can hit a lot of shots but the difficulty for me is going to be the walking going forward. It is what it is. I wish it could be easier. I've got three more years, where I get the little buggy and be out there with Fred (laughter) but until then no buggy.

Q. This is our first time speaking to you since the PGA TOUR rolled out its new designated events schedule, and you said in the past the record you're most proud of is the consecutive cuts made streak; that you took a lot of pride in that. What's your thought about the direction of the PGA TOUR and, namely, getting rid of the cuts in some of these events?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, there's still some ongoing discussions about some of the designated events and whether or not we're going to have cuts going forward. I certainly am pushing for my event to have a cut. I think that maybe the player-hosted events may have cuts. These are things that Jack and I are still in discussion with Jay and the board and the TOUR and the rest of the guys. That still is in flux.

I still think that there needs to be a penalty for not playing well, and to have that -- every event shouldn't be always guaranteed 72 holes. I think that there should be a cut there. But we are trying to figure that out. And you know, what designated events those are going to be, how many are there going to be, that's still ongoing. But that conversation is still being had.

Q. What has been a key to your overcoming adversity through the years, would you say?

TIGER WOODS: Stubbornness. Yeah, you guys have seen me. I'm a little on the stubborn side. I believe in hard work, and I believe in getting out there and getting out of it what you put into it. I've worked very hard throughout my career and in my craft; I've always loved it.

I've certainly had my share of adversity physically and had multiple surgeries and I've had to come back and work through that. You know, those were tough. They were never easy. But it's just the overall desire to win has always been there, and I've always worked at it and believed in what I could do.

I've been stubborn and driven to come back and play at a high level. I think that has shown throughout my career and one of the reasons why I was able to -- how many cuts I've been able to make in a row and how many tournaments I've been able to win over the course of my career, and that's just hanging in there and fighting on each and every shot. It means something. Each and every shot means something.

Q. Excel Sports Management has no LIV clients; I wonder if you have an influence on that.

TIGER WOODS: I do not, no. I certainly have had my opinion with Steiny and the company, but that's about Excel and what they want to do. No, I do not have any direct influence with them.

Q. Indirect influence?

TIGER WOODS: I have my opinions, yes.

Q. The other thing that's gone down since we last saw you is the R&A and the USGA ruled on the golf ball, and some of your peers have been very much against it, a few not, but there have been some outspoken comments about it. Curious where you stand, and also, how would it impact you right now? What would that do if you were hitting that golf ball now?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I have always been an advocate of rolling the -- if you do anything to the equipment, I don't think that you can change the size of the heads anymore, just because there's so many out there. But I still think that it's very much like baseball with aluminum bats and wooden bats. You can have a difference in the golf ball, and tennis has the same thing, you go to different events. They have different balls; the public doesn't really know that but the players do.

I've been of the position if you play in a pro event or you have a P next to your name, you should be playing a pro ball. Now, that was my opinion on it. If you have an A next to your name and you're playing an amateur event, you should use an amateur ball. But you're an amateur playing a pro event, now that's where the transition can be had, where you can start, I wouldn't say rolling the game back, but you can start slowing it down because we're just not able to create enough property out there.

The guys are going to become more athletic. Everyone is going to get bigger, stronger, faster as the generations go on. With technology, you're going to find -- even if you roll the ball back and get a spinnier golf ball, guys will find you may go to a 4-degree driver and you may find a different shaft and you may have that one match up.

But I just think that the -- yes, I think this should have happened a long time ago. That's what Jack was saying, the 384 was going too far. This is back in the '80s. But still, that was my take on it; that the amateurs should be able to have fun and still hit the golf ball far but we can be regulated about how far we hit it.

Now, I understand the marketing is going to be different for how you're going to market your equipment to the public. But yeah, I understand that, but on a competitive level, there's only so much we can do at the amateur level or the Tour level on how much property we can do, and the guys are going to find ways to hit it further.

The average number used to be, what, 280 off the tee, 279 when I first came out on TOUR. Now the guys are carrying it 320, okay. So not every golf course can be like Augusta National and move property and moving holes back. There's only so many golf courses you can do that on, and we still want to be able to play the old traditional great golf courses.

But again, here is the difficulty of the question. Then the joining of the game. We've had a big boom in this game with COVID and more will play in the game and it's more exciting. Okay, well, on TOUR, it's exciting to see Rory McIlroy hit it 340 yards on every hole. But does it challenge us and separate the guys who can really hit the ball in the middle of the face and control their shots? I think if you roll the ball back a little bit, you'll see that the better ball-strikers will have more of an advantage over the guys who miss it a little bit.

Q. Do you have any sense for how it might impact you personally?

TIGER WOODS: Well, by the time it takes effect, I may be long gone. As I said, I may be in the buggy and off we go.

But last week, I was at home playing at Medalist and I had my old Persimmon driver and I was able to still carry the ball 290 yards. Now, when I missed it, no, it did not go very far. But the ability to hit the ball in the middle of the face was rewarded.

I don't know if Rory shared this, but yesterday I brought a couple balata balls up here with me and threw them over to him and had him hit a couple putts with them, and he said, "Oh, my God."

I said, "Yes, exactly." This is -- we're not going to roll the ball back that far, but it's kind of neat to be able to see the golf ball do different things.

Q. You were talking a little about this really cool bank of memories that you have here at Augusta. I'm wondering, just curious, have you ever tried to recreate the chip on 16 from 2005, like whether it was playing with Charlie or Justin or somebody who wasn't around for that?

TIGER WOODS: No. They have since redesigned that hole, redesigned the green. So it's not how it used to be over there. I just ran into Peter Dawson on the way in here. He was right behind me on that chip shot. So everyone is screaming and yelling and Peter is just as stoic as can be back there. That's probably one of the neat photos.

But yeah, the green has changed. There is a new back, deeper hole location there that they tried to fit. But my chip there in 2005 is not the same as -- the green is not the same as it was then.

Q. When you see replays of that, it's become one of the most iconic Masters shots of all time. What goes through your head when that comes across your TV or your phone?

TIGER WOODS: I did not draw a bad lie on that tee shot to hit that bad. You know, if you want to go back and see the chip went in, okay, that's cool. But to hit an 8-iron that bad and that far off-line, and I had a perfect lie, was not very good.

Q. When you won in 2019, you had an appreciable build to that win, having won THE TOUR Championship, PGA prior to that, The Open Championship, and even that season, you had solid starts, you clipped Rory in the Match Play before you came here. So in absence of competitive rounds, how do you execute what is essentially like a micro strike and contend and win here?

TIGER WOODS: Gary, a lot of it has been understanding the golf course, and I know the golf course. So I've been able to recreate a lot of the chip shots at home in my backyard or I'm at Medalist hitting balls off the side of lies, trying to simulate shots and rehearsing again and again each and every flag location, each and every shot I would possibly hit.

I've gone through so many different scenarios in my head. You know I don't sleep very well, so going through it and rummaging through the data bank and how to hit shots from each and every place and rehearsing it; that's the only way that I can compete here. I don't have the physical tournaments under my belt. I haven't played that much, no. But if there's any one golf course that I can come back, like I did last year, it's here, just because I know the golf course.

You look at what -- Bernhard is still able to compete here, Fred is still able to compete here. They're older guys who understand how to play this particular golf course. It helps. And hopefully it will help me this week.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and Tiger, thank you very much.