From Reduce Saban to Bill Murray, stars portion their ‘Tiger’s return’ recollections

Editor’s notify: This used to be originally published on April 8.

A year later, even Tiger Woods says the response to his pick at the 2019 Masters “blew his thoughts.”

We asked a few of essentially the most recognizable names on the planet — celebrities, athletes, coaches, a ragged secretary of deliver — to relive the second, to characterize us the assign they had been, what they seen, how they felt.

Of their phrases, they characterize the account of Tiger Woods’ victory at Augusta National.

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Authorities | Celebrities | Olympics | NASCAR | Soccer

Basketball| Baseball | PGA Tour | LPGA Tour

GOVERNMENT

Condoleezza Rice

“I was so inflamed when Tiger Woods obtained the Masters. As a subject of fact, the final couple holes after he birdied 16, and he had a two-stroke lead, but I was peaceable so fearful. I so wished him to make a selection it. I wished him to make a selection it on yarn of all that Tiger had been thru. He is a accurate ultimate friend and it used to be a stupendous account of redemption. I also wished him to make a selection for golf. Golf foremost Tiger to make a selection yet every other considerable. So when that putt dropped, I almost don’t even keep in mind in thoughts my feelings I was so inflamed. I was inflamed, too, because I’ve known him for so lengthy. As I characterize him, I knew him as a skinny freshman at Stanford.

“My current Tiger account used to be after I was provost at the university, I oversaw athletics. The athletic director got here in one day, he used to be so inflamed and he stated, ‘Large news, Tiger Woods committed to Stanford.’ I stated, ‘Who’s Tiger Woods?’ He stated, ‘Tiger Woods is only going to be essentially the most attention-grabbing golfer in history.’ I stated, ‘Factual, does he keep in mind accurate grades?’ He stated, ‘Yes, he has accurate grades.’ That used to be how I first grew to change into privy to Tiger Woods. He would change into a immense portion of the Stanford account and I’m so at ease with the proven fact that he peaceable carries a Stanford yardage book. So when he obtained the Masters, it used to be also ‘Hobble Cardinal.'”

CELEBRITIES

Bill Murray

Michael Pena

“The explanation that I’m golf is on yarn of Tiger. Now now not to be too fashioned, I seen somebody, some brown dude playing, and I’m fancy, ‘Right here’s supreme. He looks fancy an athlete.’ So, clearly, I’m a Tiger fan. I was in a resort room and I had an appointment for something, on a Sunday. I was assuredly fancy, he’ll tumble off, something’s going to occur, ultimate because luck hasn’t been that accurate to him as of leisurely. So I understanding both he used to be going to crumple or something used to be going to occur, blah, blah, blah. Nonetheless … he’s peaceable striking in there. I will call [my appointment] and remark I will seemingly be reasonably of bit leisurely. Function now not peril about it, even supposing. I will seemingly be there. So there’s fancy four or five holes to plug [and I call] and I remark I’m now not going to influence it, because even supposing he doesn’t pick I keep in mind to detect it.

gaze traditional Masters this week on ESPN

“I didn’t shout, but I got reasonably of teary-eyed, , to your complete dad bods on the market. Agree with how many dad bods had a creep in their peep. He is hope to your complete dad bods on the market.”

Dierks Bentley

“To search out that depth in his face, that ardour. … It be now not relevant what you carry out for work, or as a dad, it is a long way the extra or less ardour you discover to will deserve to keep in mind to your job.

“The fellow has been thru the ringer. Being an older guy myself, you are continually pulling for these guys which keep in mind had that existence abilities. To search out a guy fancy Tiger attain support up to the discontinue over again, it might well per chance per chance be tense to root in opposition to that. I’ve the collective ‘Heck, yeah’ from in some unspecified time in the future of the county when every person seen that.

“Now now not that he’s older, but he’s older, and to safe him on the market competing. He is the explanation different these babies got into golf. It be accurate to safe the chief up there exhibiting them how to carry out it.”

Larry The Cable Man

“It be extra or less fancy when astronauts landed on the moon, every person knows what they used to be doing. It used to be an supreme feat. I will remark, I admire Tiger, but I was staring at the [University of Nebraska] baseball team at that point. I switched support infrequently and I would detect a shot or two but I watched most of it on replay.

“I admire the underdog. Whenever you occur to hear of us asserting he’ll by no way pick over again, he can’t carry out it anymore, he’ll by no way carry out it over again, what a immense [in your] face … of us remark stuff fancy that to me, you will by no way carry out this, you will by no way carry out that. Well, 11 albums, five platinum, six gold … [in your] face, miniature one. I admire it. I’m overjoyed for him. I admire when of us remark to somebody you will by no way carry out it, you would also’t carry out it, and then they carry out it. That is awesome.”

OLYMPICS

Michael Phelps

“I was standing late him on 16 when he almost aced it and I was standing subsequent to him on the tee field on 12 on Sunday. For me, it used to be one of many coolest moments in sports. I in fact feel fancy I extra or less know what it feels fancy to plug up, down and then climb it support up. To carry out that, I do know the way tough that is, and I do know the way supreme it feels you get support to the discontinue. It used to be an abilities for me that is hard to assign into phrases.

“He changed the sport, elevated it to the assign it is this day. Having him support, with all these young guys organising, it is gleaming crazy, it is gleaming narrative to gaze. To search out Tiger in fact playing it, laughing and joking on the market, it is stress-free to gaze.”

NASCAR

Denny Hamlin

“We got now not lower than 21 guys on the market who admire to play golf. We plug play golf on the weekend when we’re on our NASCAR weekends. I keep in mind in thoughts being on a neighborhood chat with all of our golf guys, which is a bunch of NASCAR drivers who’re on a neighborhood chat talking about golf. We keep in mind now got in thoughts staring at shot after shot, his supreme abilities, and it ultimate looked fancy we had been staring at Tiger from 15, 20 years ago.”

FOOTBALL

Peyton Manning

“It be something I’ve of us will continually keep in mind in thoughts the assign they had been when Tiger did that. It be so extraordinary extra stress-free when he’s within the event. He brings your complete A-listers out. He does. To carry out it down there, at Augusta, it used to be one for the ages.”

Eli Manning

“At any time when he’s within the combo, issues get thrilling and also you get glued to that TV. So Saturday and Sunday, we had four youngsters running spherical. I got to a soccer sport and pretend fancy I’m filming my daughter but I’m in fact streaming and staring at the Masters and Tiger.”

Reduce Saban

“Tiger is one of essentially the most attention-grabbing avid gamers of all time and he’s also one of essentially the most attention-grabbing competitors. I had the privilege, way support within the ’90s, when he had ultimate obtained the Masters the first time, to play with him. It be something I’ll by no way fail to recollect. He is continually been somebody that I root for, too.

“All of us, as fans, continually fancy to safe a immense comeback. … And for him to conquer your complete injuries and your complete difficulties he’s had and attain support to make a selection yet every other considerable used to be doubtlessly as big an accomplishment as someone had in that decade. It used to be a joy to gaze.”

Emmitt Smith

“I felt relief for him. For a guy who has keep in as extraordinary work as he has, from beginning to carry out, and has long past thru some issues by way of dealing alongside with his physique breaking down. As a ragged athlete myself, I realize how that stuff works. To search out him fight thru it all, detect him mentally tricky, conserving on stable, and to persevere and get on the assorted aspect of it and pick that green jacket over again, it used to be immense.

“He couldn’t be in a scheme to carry out issues fancy he extinct to on yarn of the physique itself, but mentally his sport is as tricky as someone else’s. It used to be a message to every person. No subject how aged you would also get, what the course of would be, it is a long way foremost to get thru the course of in describe to cherish the assign you had been, the assign you are and the assign you are going.”

Larry Fitzgerald

“I was there for the first two days of the event then I watched the final two rounds at dwelling. I was happy. To know him, the psychological makeup, what the sport system to him and how extraordinary he cares about the sport of golf — now not only for himself, but by way of the expansion of it. I’ve it is something that is definitely changed, from the young Tiger when it used to be, he had blinders on, singularly centered on his achievements to now.

“As a fan of the sport, it gave the sport a shot within the arm. There are of us that admire Tiger, there are of us that abominate Tiger. It be now not relevant what, of us are going to gaze Tiger. They’ll gaze to safe him play poorly, they are going to gaze to safe him carry out transcending issues. He is a polarizing figure. I heard of us remark Tiger moves the needle; Tiger is the needle.”

Marcus Allen

“I are privy to it used to be vital to him, but it used to be vital to hundreds of thousands of of us to safe him attain support and play the style he did. I didn’t detect any trepidation in his face. He used to be on a mission. It be fancy being within the huddle with a quarterback. If he’s now not panicking, neither carry out you. Nonetheless while you occur to’re sitting on the sideline and your coach is fancy, ‘Oh my God, what are we going to carry out?’ — you by no way seen that in Tiger’s face. He used to be centered.

“All used to be appropriate with the arena, man. The total stars and the moons had been aligned perfectly because Tiger used to be support the assign he’s speculated to be. I was at dwelling staring at it on tv and I rattling attain cried. Truly, I did. It used to be one of many one issues I’ve ever considered in sports. … I checked out these videos of your complete of us that stated he would by no way pick over again, you seen who wasn’t on there — me. Because I knew he used to be going to make a selection. I keep in mind continually stated God doesn’t give us such brilliance to perceive it away. Tiger is a one-in-a-million.”

Matt Ryan

“I’ve ultimate how peaceable he used to be in some unspecified time in the future of your complete ingredient. There had been a ton of assorted guys [in the mix] and a ton of assorted issues occurring, he used to be ultimate so steady. As an athlete, while you gaze of us with poise fancy that, it is impressive. I’ve by no way met Tiger, but he’s got a huge fan here in Atlanta. Ever since 1997, man. I keep in mind in thoughts staring at the Masters rising up and used to be bent on golf after that.”

Joe Burrow

“I didn’t gaze golf for five years because I only watched golf when Tiger used to be playing and competing at a excessive level. I grew up staring at him with my dad, him occurring the market alongside with his crimson polos and most attention-grabbing dominating the realm. I only gaze golf if Tiger’s playing.

“He used to be a phenom thru his young ages and then he hit a low point and got here support from it. I’ve adversity performs a portion in every person’s lives. I got emotional staring at it, honestly.”

Lunge Younger

“The single ingredient I discover out about golf is Tiger Woods’ comeback. I’ve I watched it on YouTube a few instances. Everyone used to be depraved-mouthing him, asserting he used to be performed. They are saying it is a long way the largest comeback in sports — ever. I positively watched Tiger after I was going thru what I was going thru — and it helped.”

J.J. Watt

“He ultimate extra or less has that raise out in that sport — the Tiger raise out. The galleries are crazy, the fans are crazy, the TV rankings are crazy. It be wild to gaze one particular person be in a scheme to keep in mind that extraordinary pull and that extraordinary influence on a complete viewing target market. It be a probability of issues the assign of us remark, ‘Golf is extra thrilling when Tiger’s within the hunt.’ I’ve that used to be a immense instance of it.”

BASKETBALL

Chris Paul

“I in actuality had some sneakers made with Tiger on them. I had them made for that day. I in actuality played in them that [playoff game with the Houston Rockets]. I’m a huge golfer, big fan of Tiger. It used to be a huge day. I was going nuts with my family. I in actuality signed a pair of these and despatched them for his foundation. Amazing comeback and I’ve he’s peaceable got extraordinary extra left to carry out.”

Geno Auriemma

“I keep in mind in thoughts being on the cell telephone texting with my son, who’s a in fact perfect Tiger fan. He stated, ‘Dad, I keep in mind tears in my eyes staring at this’ as here is occurring. I’ve any factual golfer, someone that in actuality appreciates the sport, understands what he’s intended to golf, what he’s intended to the sport, what he’s intended to the tour, what he’s intended to his fellow tour execs. Now now not that golf is now not in fact any accurate without him, now not that golf is now not in fact immense without reference to who’s successful, because there are such a broad amount of immense avid gamers this day, but there’s something special about when Tiger is in competition, in a considerable and that considerable is the Masters. I’m in a position to’t even take into consideration the feelings that he felt, but I do know the feelings that we all felt, of us who’re fans of his, and we will by no way fail to recollect it.”

Steve Kerr

“We watched the final three holes as a team (the Golden Jabber Warriors). We had been scheduled to beginning remark at without reference to time and Tiger is finishing the final three holes and it looks fancy he’ll pick, so as a substitute of staring at movie, we watched the final three holes. It felt fancy we had been staring at something big, something historical, something athletically that used to be in fact uncommon. So it felt bigger than a convention. We had been all cheering for him. It used to be a gleaming frigid second to gaze it as a neighborhood, since it used to be this form of accurate metaphor for any athlete to the resilience of the competitive desire that he confirmed to make a selection the Masters in that vogue.”

Ray Allen

“I keep in mind five TVs in my living room. And it got to the point that I keep all five TVs on the same ingredient because I wished to safe it in unison. I keep in mind in thoughts in ’97 when he obtained his first Masters, I was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was a rookie within the NBA and keep in mind in thoughts the bar I was sitting in. I was so inflamed, and so proud — because he used to be so young and he used to be the one murky golfer on tour besides Vijay [Singh]. To attain fleshy circle this past year … greatness is about consistency over a really lengthy time frame.

“I’ve every person felt his distress and it made him accurate because every person for the longest time stated, well, Tiger is unreal, he’s a robot. To carry out the issues he’s doing, no one can realize that. Nonetheless once he went thru that, it confirmed that he used to be accurate. And to make himself support up and pick and be stronger and to dominate, it used to be a lesson for everyone to deliver, what, I’m no Tiger Woods, but when existence knocks me down, I’m in a position to get support up, I’m in a position to fight.”

BASEBALL

Mike Trout

“To attain support from all he’s been thru and all his surgical procedures … I’m getting chills ultimate now taking into consideration it. Whenever you have of golf, I’ve every person thinks of Tiger Woods. You know he’s within the hunt, then … I was telling myself your complete time he used to be going to make a selection your complete time. Everyone else used to be fancy, ‘No, no, no.’ Then when it occurred … the abilities, I wasn’t there, but I felt fancy I was staring at it on TV. Rising up, he’s the explanation I started golf, staring at Tiger. Supreme how dominant he used to be. It be gleaming special. He despatched me some golf equipment. It be gleaming special. I suggested myself I’m now not going to employ them till I play with him. I don’t have I’m in a position to hit them anyway, they’re fancy accurate skinny blades.”

Justin Verlander

“I was within the clubhouse in Houston staring at and every person ultimate stopped because we had been staring at history. I’ve every person ultimate stopped what they had been doing and most standard what had long past into what he used to be doing. We got different golf fans in our clubhouse, so every person used to be staring at.”

Roger Clemens

Tom Glavine

“About the heart of the spherical, to get the sense that it had that Tiger-kind event in fact feel to it, the assign you are fancy, ‘OK, he’s coming and is he going to drag this off?’ So it used to be extra or less some anxious breaths, I assume, hoping he used to be going to hang on and pick it.”

John Smoltz

“I didn’t pass over a shot. I was glued to the TV, as used to be your complete world. The minute it used to be over I texted him. Supreme the raw feelings we had been in a scheme to safe attain out, that used to be something special. I will remark, in my lifetime, it used to be essentially the most attention-grabbing Masters I’ve I’ve ever watched. I do know what he’s been thru. I’ve played a thousand rounds it looks fancy with him. Supreme anytime bodily somebody gets to a diploma the assign you do now not know while you occur to’re ever going to play over again and then you definately also can climb the mountain over again and carry out something every person anticipated you to carry out at the peak of your sport, I’ve he confirmed the arena he wasn’t performed … I’ve he confirmed himself and his youngsters seeing something special, historical. This provides him hope over again to are attempting and scuttle down a couple extra records that he’s got his eyes on.”

PGA TOUR

Joe LaCava

Jack Nicklaus

“I watched it from the boat (a 112-foot-yacht known as Sea Endure).

“When the guys began filling up Rae’s Creek on the 12th gap, I’m staring at them one after yet every other hit the ball appropriate of the bunker, and I stated, ‘In actuality?’ You ultimate can’t hit the ball appropriate of the bunker. How over and over keep in mind you considered the event misplaced because they hit it appropriate of the bunker?

“I’m in a position to characterize you, I didn’t plug away my chair. Tiger hit the ball, and naturally he had reasonably of decrease shot over the left aspect of the bunker into the heart of the fairway. And the event is over.

“Tiger used to be neat ample to play the shot he played and he might well well per chance play it. Tiger used to be rejuvenated by staring at these balls plug within the water and shimmering he used to be neat ample now not to carry out that. That you just would be in a position to ultimate detect it on his face. He used to be support to doing what he extinct to carry out.”

Rory McIlroy

“I didn’t gaze it dwell. I was on my system to the airport. I was following on my cell telephone. I was getting updates on my cell telephone. After which I watched the highlights after I got dwelling, of course. You gotta gaze the way in which it gets performed.

“I’ve it introduced of us support to a time when they had been 10 years younger. That’s what they watched. There used to be a immense nostalgic in fact feel to it. It be what we watched Tiger carry out every Sunday for years. And I’ve every person seen the struggles that he’s been thru and the proven fact that he might well well per chance persevere and get support to that level over again. It used to be awesome.”

Brooks Koepka

“I was ultimate seeking to carry out me, seeking to play the one I’m in a position to. Now now not shy. He doesn’t fright me. …

“It used to be frigid to safe. It used to be frigid to carry out up and customarily gaze it within the scoring tent. By the point I’m signing my card, he used to be hitting his chip [on 18]. And I’m fancy, well, if I’m going stand outside and dwell up for him I’m now not going to safe it. So I also can to boot gaze it. It used to be gleaming frigid, it used to be uncommon to safe that many guys. And every person desires to be overjoyed for him. It be accurate for our sport, accurate for the fans, accurate for us, accurate for everyone.”

Paul Azinger

“I felt fancy when he walked up on the fairway on 12 and he stood over on that left aspect of the fairway waiting on these guys, he used to be gleaming extraordinary asserting, ‘Stare upon me, leer at me. I’m in my vitality colours.’ I’ve the raise out used to be accurate. And I felt he used to be going to make a selection. That you just would be in a position to ultimate in fact feel it.

“All someone might well well per chance discuss used to be him successful. I was emotionally plagued by that. I in fact admire Tiger, continually keep in mind. I seen him when he first confirmed up, caught by him. It used to be a probability of issues when issues began to plug abdominal up, I continually kept asserting, ‘Naysayers beware. You do now not know how accurate this guy is. Whenever you are writing him off, while you occur to’re getting it tainted.'”

Tony Finau

“I’ve I leer at it assorted than most guys. I was so in my lane. I wasn’t shy about Tiger and what he used to be doing till we walked off the tee on 18 and I knew I wasn’t going to make a selection. And when he hit it within the golf green and he used to be going to make a selection, I was in fact overjoyed for him and the sport. Nonetheless for 17 holes, I was ultimate shy about me. Everyone enjoys seeing Tiger within the hunt.”

Justin Thomas

“I was within the miniature dining dwelling eating lunch and I’ve he had ultimate made birdie on 15. Once he hit his tee shot on 16 and made that putt, it used to be extra or less fancy, ‘Wow, he’ll pick this ingredient.’ Then after [Koepka] omitted that putt and made par, at that point it used to be over. So it is when it extra or less assign of dwelling in and it used to be fancy, ‘Wow, here is definitely occurring. Right here’s astounding.'”

Lee Trevino

“It used to be ultimate fancy [when] Nicklaus obtained at 46. I had ultimate performed playing [the Masters that year, finishing 47th] and I drove to Atlanta. I was within the airport and there used to be a bar in some unspecified time in the future of from our gate the assign we had been getting on the plane. And Nicklaus made that eagle putt on 15, every person went nuts. And they had been loading the plane and no-one would get on. They had to cease and dwell up for Nicklaus to carry out. We suggested them to plug ahead, we will clutch the next one! I keep in mind in thoughts exactly the assign I was then.

“And it used to be the same with Tiger. I was at dwelling and it used to be graceful. I was in awe. I understanding this used to be essentially the most attention-grabbing ingredient that ever occurred to the sport. I’m in a position to’t characterize you the phrases I extinct but there weren’t different letters in them! I do know he had a gleaming private existence for all these years. And when he got distress and it looked fancy he wasn’t going to play anymore, I’ve he realized that of us in fact cherished him. He got all forms of letters. And I don’t have he ever realized that. When he got here support, the style they accredited him it used to be for the simpler. He is got different personality. He has to perceive now how extraordinary of us admire him. Especially golfers. We admire him. He didn’t tumble off the bed and change into essentially the most attention-grabbing golfer within the arena.”

Jim Nantz

“It [felt like he would win] used to be positively when Tiger used to be within the golf green on 11 and the neighborhood in entrance of him (Ian Poulter, Brooks Koepka, Webb Simpson) used to be dumping balls within the water on 12 and it persevered when he stepped on the tee at 12. It used to be fancy, ‘Oh my gosh, the complete lot is lined up now. The stars are aligned. The karma is on his aspect.’ It be fancy when he used to be on top of the arena and others would continually safe a technique to tumble aside.

“That is now not to perceive the relaxation a long way from the style Tiger played. These issues added up to a extraordinarily acquainted feeling to me and I did not have someone used to be going with a conception to make a selection assorted than Tiger. [Francesco ] Molinari had been a rock to that point going support to Carnoustie when he beat Tiger at The Initiating. Supreme to safe all these mistakes at 12, it used to be dazzling. And when Tiger had had his shot on 12, there used to be by no way any doubt in my thoughts the assign he used to be going to hit that ball. And it is exactly the assign you understanding, you perhaps will keep in mind drawn a 3-foot circle and that’s the assign his ball went.

“I’ve had so many diversified scenarios the assign I have been moved by a second. There keep in mind been one million of them. Nonetheless it completely positively touched me when Tiger had that second late the 18th green alongside with his young of us. As a dad, it struck a chord. I didn’t remark the relaxation. And that used to be gleaming transferring.”

LPGA TOUR

Cheyenne Woods, Tiger’s niece

“I was in Hawai’i at the LPGA Lotte. Unfortunately, I was seeking to Monday qualify on Sunday, so I in actuality omitted [the final round of the Masters]. As I was warming up, I was conserving up alongside with your complete updates, shot by shot.

“It used to be a probability of moments the assign you knew it used to be a extraordinarily special time in history of what used to be occurring within the golf world. I was on the vary, I was on the striking green checking my cell telephone — and every person else used to be to boot. It used to be a probability of instances the assign every person stopped what they had been doing and staring at Tiger carry out what he does. It used to be surreal. It used to be a probability of special moments that you just will continually keep in mind in thoughts.

“I keep in mind in thoughts being within the golf green on my first gap and somebody asserting, ‘Tiger obtained.’ It makes me cease. I get goosebumps. I get emotional.

“Some of my current instances are ultimate him being in some unspecified time in the future of the young of us and seeing what a immense dad he’s. Seeing that aspect of him, that different of us seen after he obtained the Masters. The hug, I’ve, used to be one of many one instances in Tiger history. It used to be the emotional aspect of him.

Jessica Korda

Marina Alex

“My roommate, Jenny Suh and I, keep in mind lived collectively for four years. They made it an early beginning on Sunday [because of the threat of thunderstorms in Augusta, Georgia]. So we had been fancy, ‘Sweet, we’re going to come up and keep in mind a brunch form of ingredient.’ So we made pimento cheese sandwiches and we had mimosas and we assuredly sat on the couch and drank your complete morning staring at Tiger. It used to be awesome. After which we cried fancy babies when he obtained because … it is Tiger. Whenever you remark he doesn’t keep in mind an influence on your golf profession you are doubtlessly lying to yourself. He is all I watched as a kid.”

Lorena Ochoa

Danielle Kang

“The Tiger raise out, it is accurate.”