‘He was hitting wedges when we had three woods’ – Masters rivals remember day Tiger Woods changed golf forever in 1997

WHEN Tiger Woods turned professional midway through 1996, he famously declared: “Hello world.” He should have said: “Watch out world.”

Just nine months later, in his first Major as a pro, 21-year-old Woods shredded The Masters’ record books on his way to a 12-shot victory that celebrated CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz described as “a win for the ages”.

As well as setting new records for the tournament’s biggest winning margin and lowest score, Woods also became the youngest player ever to pull on the Green Jacket.

He finished an astonishing 18 under par and, in all, he set 20 Masters records during that tournament.

And the world of golf would never be the same again.

When he ducked out of the celebration party at his rented home early that night, his dad, Earl, went looking for his son — and found him asleep on his bed, hugging that Green Jacket.

But even though Woods rattled off two victories in his first five pro starts — and added a third at the PGA Tour’s opening event of 1997, the Mercedes Championship — no one could have predicted that barnstorming display at Augusta.

Sure, he was recognised as a golfing phenomenon even before he joined the paid ranks, appearing on TV at the age of two in a putting competition with Bob Hope.

And Woods was hailed as the most exciting young talent since Jack Nicklaus as he bagged an unprecedented three US Junior titles, followed by a hat-trick of US Amateur Championships.

But he had missed the cut at as an amateur at the 1996 Masters — when Greg Norman choked away a five-shot lead to lose by six to Nick Faldo — and only managed a share of 41st a year earlier.

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He still started as co-favourite in 1997 alongside Faldo and Norman at 8-1. But it seemed those odds were anything but generous as Woods carved his opening drive into the trees and made the first of four bogeys on the front nine.

There were no birdies as he made the turn in 40 and it seemed his challenge was over before it ever began.

But suddenly Woods caught fire. He made four birdies and an eagle on the back nine, taking just 30 shots and at two under he was one of only seven players to break par in the opening round.

Faldo played alongside him, shooting a 75. He recalled: “Tiger came in with such massive attention on him, no player before walked to the first tee with eight policemen around him.

“But Tiger decided he needed security. He had a whole different aura and everybody wanted a piece of it. And after looking like all the hype might get to him at first, he turned it on its head in amazing fashion.

He left us in the dust

Nick Faldo

“He went out in 40 and back in 30 and then we didn’t see him for years to come. He left us in the dust.

“He was hitting wedges and nine irons into greens where most players were taking three woods. What chance did we have?”

Woods shot 66 the next day to romp into a three-shot lead, taking the top spot with an eagle at 13, followed by birdies at both 14 and 15.

Nantz correctly decided that eagle might be the start of something special, telling almost 50 million US viewers: “Let the record show that a little after 5.30 on this Friday, April the 11th, Tiger takes the lead for the very first time at The Masters.”

Woods’ closest challenger heading into the weekend was Scot Colin Montgomerie.

He shot a second-round 67 to play his way into Saturday’s final group and was in bullish mood about his chances of finally winning a first Major.

Montgomerie said: “There’s more to golf than hitting the ball a long way and the pressure’s mounting on him more and more.

“I’ve got a lot more experience in Major championships than he has. Hopefully I can prove that.”

I witnessed something very special

Colin Montgomerie

It did not turn out the way Montgomerie had hoped as Woods played brilliant golf in a bogey-free 65. Monty shot 74 and suddenly his playing partner was nine clear of the field.

His nearest pursuer now was Costantino Rocca — the genial Italian who would beat him in the Ryder Cup singles later that year.

Montgomerie normally goes into hiding after that sort of spanking. This time he fronted up and admitted he was totally wrong about Tiger.

He said: “I witnessed something very special, something no one else has seen yet.

“I thought I would beat him. I was wrong. It was a special round and there is no chance that is humanly possible for Tiger NOT to win this tournament now.”

When Monty was reminded there had been an 11-shot swing between Faldo and Norman 12 months earlier, he replied: “This is different, this is very different. Faldo’s not lying second, for starters. And Greg Norman’s not Tiger Woods.”

No he was not. Woods turned up for the final round wearing his now trademark blood red top and black trousers and a three-under 69 was greeted with a huge fist-pump that carried the full weight of his body behind it.

Earl embraced his son on the 18th — and that moment was replayed when Woods embraced his own son, Charlie, after winning his fifth Masters, and his 15th Major title, in 2019.

The President said he was proud of the way I played

Tiger Woods, on Bill Clinton

One of the first people to phone Woods and congratulate him was President Bill Clinton. The young American took that in his stride, too. Woods revealed: “The President said he was proud of the way I played.

“He also said — and this meant a lot — that the best shot he saw all week was the shot of me hugging my dad.”

Twenty five years on, after undergoing surgery on countless occasions, including four back operations — and cheating death in an horrific car crash last year — Woods is still the man who commands all the attention at Augusta.

What can he possibly have in store for us this week?