Introduction
In the words of Bill Pennington from the New York Times, “Almost no one saw it coming.” Yet by the end of the 1997 Masters, Tiger Woods had produced one of the most astounding performances in golfing history. At 21 years old, Woods showed the world that his early successes were just a preview of a career that would thrill sports fans for decades.
A Rocky Start
Before the tournament began, some people doubted Woods would make a huge impact. Their doubts only grew after his opening nine holes at Augusta. Woods took 40 strokes and found himself four over par. It looked as though he was in trouble.
This wasn’t his first visit to Augusta. He had missed the cut the previous year as an amateur and finished 41st in 1995. Although he had already claimed three PGA Tour wins and secured multimillion pound deals with Nike and Titleist, Woods still had to prove he could shine under the biggest spotlight in golf.
Turning Things Around
Paired with three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo in that first round, Woods looked unsteady. Faldo later said that both men were “knocking it all over the place” on the front nine. Yet in a remarkable shift, Woods improved dramatically right after the turn. By the end of the opening round, he had climbed from four over par to two under.
Faldo pinpointed the moment it changed: Woods birdied the 10th and then chipped in for another birdie on the 12th. According to Faldo, “That shot was basically the beginning of the rest of his career.”
Pete McDaniel, who co-authored Training a Tiger with Woods’ father, Earl, said Woods drew on intense anger to fuel his comeback. As McDaniel recalled, when Woods headed to the 10th tee, it was as if he had flipped a switch. From that moment, he never looked back.
Shooting to the Top on Day Two
Woods carried that fierce mindset into Friday’s round, shooting a 66—the lowest of the day. Paul Azinger, his playing partner, recalled how Woods went eagle-birdie-birdie on three consecutive holes, leaving everyone in awe. That 66 pushed Woods into first place, three shots ahead of the field. Golf stars like Colin Montgomerie, Fred Couples, and José María Olazábal were close behind, but Woods still had two days of pressure ahead of him.
Day Three Domination
If people wondered whether Woods could maintain his form, Saturday provided a definitive answer. While his rivals stumbled, Woods delivered a 65, moving to a nine-shot lead. At that point, Montgomerie admitted, “There’s no chance humanly possible that Tiger is going to lose this tournament. No way.” Woods was in complete command, and a record-breaking victory seemed almost inevitable.
Sealing the Win in Style
Wearing his trademark red sweater on Sunday, Woods showed no sign of slowing down. He fired a 69 in the final round and stretched his winning margin to 12 shots—a record at the time. He also became the youngest champion in Masters history. His total score of 270 was the lowest ever recorded at Augusta back then, standing until it was matched in 2015 and beaten in 2020.
In that single week, Woods announced himself as a dominant force. Although people knew he had talent, nobody foresaw such a dramatic breakthrough. Golf had a new superstar, and Woods’ future victories would keep him at the top for years.
The Later Years and a Stunning Return
While Woods went on to collect major after major, his path wasn’t always smooth. Injuries and personal challenges led to a quieter period for a while. Then in 2019, at age 43, Woods again stunned the world by winning the Masters. This time, the winning gap was a single stroke rather than 12, but it mattered just as much.
Former rival Phil Mickelson was generous in his praise, calling it a remarkable achievement. As in 1997, many doubted Woods had another major left in him, and again he proved his doubters wrong.
Conclusion
“It’s hard to believe how much that one tournament has meant so much to me in my life,” Woods once said. Even after 28 years, golf fans still look back on that 1997 Masters as a turning point that propelled Woods to legendary status. He arrived at Augusta a promising young man and left as a champion who changed the face of the sport.
