{"id":1251123,"date":"2024-05-14T08:40:16","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T08:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/?p=1251123"},"modified":"2024-05-15T10:26:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T10:26:14","slug":"when-woods-became-the-tiger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/when-woods-became-the-tiger\/","title":{"rendered":"When Woods became “the” Tiger"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOUISVILLE, KY \u2014<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0When Tiger Woods won his first major<\/span><\/strong><\/a> at the 1997 Masters with a record 12-shot margin the consensus was a stellar career was blossoming.<\/p>\n

Woods would win four times in 1997 but his progress stalled in 1998 with only one win, although he finished in the top ten in three of the major events.<\/p>\n

Tiger would add two more top-ten finishes in the first three majors in 1999. He would also win a total of eight times, with one coming in the final major of that year \u2014 the PGA Championship at Medinah.<\/p>\n

The clarity of Tiger’s career was there for anyone with eyes to see. His mesmerising swing produced prodigious tee shots and his surgeon-like iron play constantly placed him in advantageous positions to sink numerous putts.<\/p>\n

His short-game prowess was the match of any on tour and he did the one critical thing that always separates players \u2014 sinking crucial putts when they matter most.<\/p>\n

But nothing was more important to Woods than being at the front of a major. The event at Medinah was the start of a floodgate of total dominance not seen since the likes of Jack Nicklaus a generation earlier.<\/p>\n

Medinah seemed tailor-made for Tiger. The course had ample length and placed a premium on consistent shotmaking.<\/p>\n