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AUGUSTA, GA – Tiger Woods was emotional during his press conference on Tuesday, recalling his victory at the 2019 Masters. Apparently, this carried over to the Champions Dinner he hosted on Tuesday night at Augusta National.
According to tradition, the defending champion runs the dinner which only includes the former tournament winners and club president Fred Ridley.
The rally was smaller this year as several former champions chose not to come due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Gary Player, 86, and Jack Nicklaus, 80, were in attendance and noted how affected they were by Woods’ remarks.
“Tiger was really outstanding at this year’s dinner as a host,” said Player, who along with Nicklaus landed ceremonial tee shots early Thursday morning to start the 84th Masters. “It was very heartwarming to hear him speak.
“He said he was on his way to the golf course and had to stop because he had tears in his eyes and stopped for a bit on the road because a lot of memories ran through him. mind very quickly. what he was saying, and to have won the tournament again with his kids there. “
Woods became emotional on Tuesday at his pre-tournament press conference as he described the aftermath of his 15th major win and fifth Masters win. His son Charlie’s embrace, he said, reminded him 22 years earlier when Woods won his first Masters in 1997 and met his late father, Earl, behind the 18th green.
“The circle was complete,” Woods said.
Officially called the Masters Club, the dinner began at the 1952 tournament when defending champion Ben Hogan hosted all of the past winners. Each year, the reigning champion hosts the dinner and chooses the menu.
Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw was the master of ceremonies for several years, and several of the former champions usually speak or tell stories.
“Gary was right, Tiger was very moved,” Nicklaus said. “I’ve never seen Tiger this way. But it was good. It’s always good. You always come away with the feeling of something that you haven’t had before.”
Woods’ victory in 2019 came almost exactly two years after his spinal fusion surgery, the fourth back operation. Sometimes Woods’ lower back gives him adjustments, and he’s struggled at various tournaments this year with it.
But the 82-time PGA Tour winner spoke out much earlier this week, and Nicklaus spoke to Woods, who told him: “I think I have one more in me.”
“And he can,” added the 18-time major champion. “He can have more than one in him. Tiger is no different from the rest of us. What we do, it takes its toll on our bodies.”
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