Tiger Woods to miss the Masters
The four-time Augusta champion says he is not ‘tournament ready’ to tee it up on 20th anniversary of debut win.
Tiger Woods will not play at this year’s Masters.
In a statement on his website, the 14-time major champion said his continuing back rehabilitation had not allowed him to become “tournament ready” and confessed there was still no timetable for his return.
“I will continue my diligent effort to recover, and want to get back out there as soon as possible,” he said.
“I’m especially upset because it’s a special anniversary for me that’s filled with a lot of great memories.”
Woods, who has won the Masters on four occasions and slipped on his last green jacket in 2005, will attend the Champions Dinner on Tuesday and added: “I look forward to seeing a lot of old friends.”
Champions dinner with friends Tuesday, but not tournament ready to play Augusta. https://t.co/ip14qY7sTM
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 31, 2017
It’s been two decades since he won his first Masters – and first major – at Augusta and Woods said: “Augusta National has been a very important place for me and my family for over 20 years, and while I’m disappointed, it will be good to be back there Tuesday.”
Dear Grayson Murray and Kelly Kraft, put up or shut up
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
