Tiger Woods was clearly staying positive by confirming he intends to contest the three remaining major championships of 2024 – the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, US Open at Pinehurst and the 152nd Open Championship in July at Royal Troon.
Woods made his hopes known after he ended his 2024 Masters campaign and 100th competitive round at Augusta National with a five-over-par 77 for a 16-over-par tally.
Woods had earlier posted scores of 73, 72 and 82 in his 26th Masters showing, and the closing 77 disappointingly left him in last place among those who made the halfway cut but given his limited playing time, it was a very creditable performance.
And shortly after Woods handed his scorecard in, the 15-time Major Championship winner relayed his hopes of playing in all four majors in 2024 which, if it comes to pass, will be the first time since 2019.
“Well, this is a golf course I knew going into it, so I’m going to do my homework going forward at Pinehurst, Valhalla and Troon, but that’s kind of the game plan,” he said.
“It’s always nice coming back here because I know the golf course, I know how to play it. I can kind of simulate shots. Granted, it’s never quite the same as getting out here and doing it.
“Same thing, I heard there’s some changes at the next couple sites. So got to get up there early and check them out.
“The challenge for me will be just keep lifting, keep the motor going, keep the body moving, keep getting stronger, keep progressing. Hopefully the practice sessions will keep getting longer.”
Of the 25 Masters where Woods has played all four rounds, this year’s effort is his highest finish after his prior poorest showing in finishing 47th in 2022.
Over the four rounds, Woods recorded just eight birdies, with 18 bogeys, two double-bogeys and a triple-bogey ‘7’ on the final day at the par-4 fifth hole. The triple was Woods’ second highest score to par at The Masters with the highest being a ’10’ at the par-3 12th hole back in 2020.
As disappointing it was, all credit to Woods for playing all four rounds given there was strong suggestions that he looked like withdrawing after just nine holes of his second round given he he noticeably limping, after having to play the final five holes of his first round and then a full 18 holes of his second round.
Woods ended his Masters taking his cap off to wave to the crowd before being asked what he thought was the biggest challenge pf his week.
“Well, I think that just the wind and what it was doing out here to the golf shots and the balls and putting, how difficult the course was playing”, said Woods.
“It doesn’t take much to get out of position here. Unfortunately, I got out of position a lot yesterday and a couple times today.
“It was a good week. It was a good week all around. I think that coming in here, not having played a full tournament in a very long time, it was a good fight on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately yesterday it didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to.
“Today, I thought I had in my system. Unfortunately, I didn’t produce it”.
There was a very special moment, and something you’ve rarely seen during the course of any of Woods’ career rounds no matter whether it was a major championship or a regular tournament, as Woods stopped at the back of the 16th hole to speak briefly with legendary TV commentator Vern Lindquist.
Woods had parred the 16th and Lindquist was sitting beside a tree and slightly out of sight of most spectators.
When you think Lundquist at the Masters, one call comes to mind: “Here it comes… Oh, my goodness! … Oh, wow! In your life, have you seen anything like that?” That, of course, was Lundquist’s iconic call of Tiger Woods’ hole out on No. 16 back in 2005.
Lundquist was commentating on his 40th and final Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.
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