How Tiger Woods made a two-time major winner quit during a round days before winning his first Masters

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In 1997, Tiger Woods was still a rising star in the world of golf.

The now 15-time major winner had turned pro just one year prior. At 21 years old, he had already won three times on the PGA Tour and was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1996. 

Woods was already recognised as one of the best players in the world, and was about to become the youngest ever winner of The Masters. He then set the record for the fastest ascent to number one in the Official World Golf Rankings. 

Just days before the ‘97 Masters, Woods embarrassed a two-time major winner, making him quit a round by the second hole.

Tiger Woods beat Mark O’Meara so badly he drove home

Days before the Masters, Woods and 1998 Masters winner Mark O’Meara played a casual round together at their home course in Isleworth, Florida. The pair were good friends and frequently played together. 

But Woods was in a totally different headspace in the build-up to Augusta National. In their first round together prior to the Masters, Woods shot a 59, going 10-under over his final 10 holes. 

O’Meara and Woods played again the next day, with O’Meara clearly hoping that his opponent had cooled off from his incredible 59. He hadn’t.

Woods opened with a birdie on the 10th, and then on the 11th hole made a hole-in-one that one-hopped into the hole. 

“That was a really nice shot. I quit. I’ll see you later on the driving range when you get done,” said O’Meara, who left Woods on the tee box and drove home. 

“I look at him, and I got back in my cart and I drove back to my house,” said O’Meara years later. “I was done. He went birdie hole-in-one after shooting 59. I was like, ‘This is ridiculous!’”

In the Masters that followed, Woods announced himself as the next dominant force in golf.

Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters by 12 strokes

At 21 years old, Woods shot 18-under-par to win the Masters by a record 12 strokes. 

He actually had a rough start to the tournament. He shot a four-over 40 on the front nine. But that only made Woods angry, and that’s when he locked in. He chipped in on the 12th hole, and never looked back.

Woods responded with a 30 on the second nine to move within four shots of the leader on the first day. He then shot 66 on Friday to take the lead at eight-under, and it was a lead he would never surrender.

A 65 on Saturday is when Woods moved into another class. Fans at Augusta began to realize they weren’t just watching a victory. Woods was about to reshape the game.

In his “Tiger Red” shirt on Sunday, he closed the deal emphatically. Woods was relentless, and later said he had the scoring record on his mind. He finished the day 18 under par to break Jack Nicklaus’ record. Woods had arrived. 

It was the first big step for Woods in becoming the greatest golfer of all time, and that Masters win alone inspired the entire generation of players that followed.