News
Tiger Woods announces he will not play in the 2017 Masters
Tiger Woods released a statement on his website on Friday night confirming that he will not play in the 2017 Masters, because he’s not “tournament ready.” It’s the second year in a row that the four-time Green Jacket winner will not tee it up at Augusta National for The Masters, and it’s been 20 years since his 12-stroke victory in 1997.
Here’s his statement in its entirety:
Unfortunately, I won’t be competing in this year’s Masters. I did about everything I could to play, but my back rehabilitation didn’t allow me the time to get tournament ready. I’m especially upset because it’s a special anniversary for me that’s filled with a lot of great memories. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since I won my first green jacket.
I have no timetable for my return, but I will continue my diligent effort to recover, and want to get back out there as soon as possible.
I’d like to pass along my regrets to Billy Payne, the Augusta National membership, staff, volunteers and patrons, that I won’t be there. I will be at the Champions Dinner and I look forward to seeing a lot of old friends.
Augusta National has been a very important place to me and my family for over 20 years, and while I’m disappointed, it will be good to be back there Tuesday.
The last we saw of Woods in competition was at the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where he withdrew after 18 holes due to spasms in his lower back — a location that’s been surgically operated on three times.
Woods says he has “no timetable” for his return to competitive golf.
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News
Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Jim H
Apr 4, 2017 at 11:46 am
Such a “surprise” announcement
Dave R
Apr 3, 2017 at 9:42 pm
OMG who cares. REALLY !!
Tom54
Apr 3, 2017 at 7:48 pm
I understand he say he is not tournament ready but I don’t know why he doesn’t go have some fun, play the best he can and give fans who still love him the opportunity to watch him. If he would open up and be honest and not really care about what he shoots he would gain a lot of credibility and humility. We all know how great he was no denying that. But I agree that the secrecy around him and his injuries is a bit troubling
ButchT
Apr 3, 2017 at 6:46 pm
I think his withdrawing is comical.
Pilko
Apr 3, 2017 at 2:05 pm
Personally I think it’s the correct decision for Tiger and for golf, as much as I like the phenomena of Tiger playing and even better at the Masters. It’s beneficial to golf that the week isn’t centred around another ‘Tiger Return’ and instead we can see other stories break through. Added to this I don’t feel like we are getting the whole story about Tiger and something is being hidden about his condition.
JR
Apr 2, 2017 at 9:06 am
who really gives a chit about tiger anymore?? He is toast, done, kaput!!
ND Hickman
Apr 2, 2017 at 5:09 am
Seriously, can we please do away with the SHANK and LOL prefix on article pictures. It’s petty and simply plays up to the Tiger-basher crowd.
BB
Apr 2, 2017 at 11:49 am
Are you seriously triggered by a Tiger Woods article being shanked? SMH
ND Hickman
Apr 3, 2017 at 8:49 am
Nope, I’ve said it was a silly addition since day one. It literally serves no purpose other than trolling.
Lc
Apr 1, 2017 at 7:48 pm
Just don’t understand people guy was dominate and great to watch just as any athlete that’s purely competitive and not for the money. He had no other impact on my life nor any of the others that try to bash him.
Lc
Apr 1, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Ball licker…lol…I get it…lol… funny…read article about a guy and that’s what comes to ur mind. Lol….
KJ
Apr 1, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Sad to see such a great player have the game taken away from him b/c of injuries. He should start to think about taking an extended leave of absence and just rest his back for another year. Let it heal as much as possible. Give it one more go and if it doesn’t work out, retire.
Tom
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Jack’s record is safe.
Reebs
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Aprils fool?
BC
Apr 1, 2017 at 11:23 am
He knew he wouldn’t be playing. He has been history for a long time now.
Shallowface
Apr 1, 2017 at 11:04 am
There are things that cannot be bought, even if one has a billion dollars.
Rich Douglas
Apr 1, 2017 at 10:42 am
Of COURSE he isn’t playing. Neither am I. And both had the same probability: zero.
ooffa
Apr 1, 2017 at 6:54 am
BTW he’s not playing in The Players Championship, The British Open, The PGA or the US Open.
I hope I didn’t scoop your news team with these revelations.
Fat Perez
Apr 1, 2017 at 6:52 am
Shocker!!! Lol!
The dude
Apr 1, 2017 at 6:01 am
The real question….when will he retire…this year or next.
Shallowface
Apr 1, 2017 at 11:06 am
Never. It’s irrelevant.
The dude
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:59 am
But …that Bridgestone ball..and TM protos…
TONEY P
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:42 am
Wasn’t something we didn’t know. Tiger will be missed. Maybe some others should get out too.
Mark
Apr 1, 2017 at 5:03 am
And tomorrow is Sunday. Yawn.
Mr Muira
Apr 1, 2017 at 4:57 am
At least Elvis Presley has the decency to rock up.
Johnnylongballz
Apr 1, 2017 at 3:46 am
No announcement was necessary.
Wedge Chunk
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:47 am
Arnold Palmer wont be there either.
clowone
Apr 1, 2017 at 4:07 am
Too soon man, too soon
Bert
Apr 1, 2017 at 8:46 am
Callous comparison.
Looper
Apr 1, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Out of bounds man!!!
Big Mike
Mar 31, 2017 at 11:51 pm
He is done. Great memories of the Tiger of old but today’s Tiger has been tamed by mother nature and physical limitations. Thank you Tiger for the memories and all you have done for the game. Wishing you the best
Moonman
Mar 31, 2017 at 11:19 pm
I heard Tiger is going to play next year at the Masters. Cant wait!!!!!!
Jason
Mar 31, 2017 at 10:26 pm
Maybe he could just be an Honorary Starter.
Dat
Mar 31, 2017 at 10:08 pm
close the comments, this is gonna get ugly.
ooffa
Mar 31, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Of course he’s not. No one thought he would.
JR
Apr 1, 2017 at 12:00 am
except tiger ball lickers