Tour News
10 revealing quotes from Tiger Woods’ most candid interview ever
On the eve of his 40th birthday, amid yet another injury setback and yet another compromised, disappointing season, Tiger Woods sat down with veteran golf writer Lorne Rubenstein for Time. The often-guarded, often-contemptuous of the media Woods spoke at length and with a candor he’s rarely offered in his 20 years on tour.
Woods seems resigned to the possibility that he may not break Jack Nicklaus’ major record and at peace with the uncertainty surrounding his future. He indicates that his role as father is much more important than world-beating golf at this stage in his career.
What’s not addressed: Steve Williams’ book, substantial questions related to his infidelity, either with Elin Woods or Lindsey Vonn, specific criticisms of his swings, and coach-switching.
Here are 10 of the most revealing quotes from Woods’ interview.
He doesn’t watch golf on T.V., and what he thinks of the coverage…
I can’t remember the last time I watched golf. I can’t stand it. Unless one of my friends has a chance to win, then I like watching it. I watched Jason [Day] win the PGA. But it was on mute. It’s always on mute and I have some other game on another TV.
It’s just, some of the announcers, they don’t even go on the golf course. And they look at a pin sheet from the booth, but they’ve never surveyed the golf course, even though the television coverage doesn’t come on until the afternoon. You have all that time to go walk the golf course, to see some of the early rounds, see what guys are doing, how they’re hitting it, how’s the course playing, is the wind coming up? All those different things that you could do. The only one who does that is Finchy.
His children are the most important things in his life…
The most important thing, though, is that I get to have a life with my kids. That’s more important than golf. I’ve come to realize that now.
It’s more important for me to be with my kids. I don’t know how I could live with myself not being able to participate in my kids’ lives like that.
He doesn’t go online or read what’s written about him and what he thinks of his critics…
One, you don’t listen to it. And two, in today’s world, you don’t go online.
They made their career being negative and being outlandish. They’ve made a career out of it. But that’s their take. They’ve almost created a character, per se.
Hindsight on marriage, infidelity…
It would be having a more open, honest relationship with my ex-wife. Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. She’s one of my best friends. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time. We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids. I wish I would have known that back then.
She talks to me about her life, I talk to her about my life. We try and help each other out on all occasions. And we work through it with the kids, the parenting program. She is one of my best friends now, and it’s all because of my kids. We’ve worked so hard, and I’ve shown her how much I love them. We’ve worked so hard at co-parenting, to make sure that their lives are fantastic.
What he’s told his children about his infidelity, divorce…
“Guys, the reason why we’re not in the same house, why we don’t live under the same roof, Mommy and Daddy, is because Daddy made some mistakes.” I just want them to understand before they get to Internet age and they log on to something or have their friends tell them something. I want it to come from me so that when they come of age, I’ll just tell them the real story. But meanwhile, it’s just, “Hey, Daddy made some mistakes. But it’s O.K. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. But look what happened at the end of it. Look at how great you are. You have two loving parents that love you no matter what.”
A common misconception about his pursuit of Nicklaus…
What was posted on my wall, about Jack’s records. It was not the majors, O.K.. There was one on there. It was the first time he broke 40, the first time he broke 80, the first golf tournament he ever won, first time he ever won the state amateur, first time he won the U.S. Amateur, and the first time he won the U.S. Open. That was it. That was the list. It was all age-related. To me, that was important. This guy’s the best out there and the best of all time. If I can beat each age that he did it, then I have a chance at being the best.
His perspective on tournament play…
From the very first shot, the first hole, you have to be that way [full-throttle]. It’s one of the things I was trying to teach Jason Day this year. The first hole is just as important as the last hole, and every shot is exactly the same. So you have the same intent, the same intensity. Nothing changes.
Golf is, what, five hours? You’re trying to tell me that I can’t go out there and focus that hard for five hours, when I’ve got 19 other hours to recover? That’s how I look at it. So I’m going to give it absolutely everything I can, everything I have, for this five-hour window. Let’s go.
His thoughts on his legacy…
The greatest thing that could happen is to not be remembered. What I mean by that is, the kids right now, they don’t know that Michael Jordan played. They see a Jumpman [logo] and they think, that’s so cool. I’m talking young kids, really young kids, single digits in age, they have no idea who Michael Jordan was, but the Jumpman logo is cool. Now, for me, they don’t understand who that is. My learning center, kids go through it and they don’t know who I am. They don’t know what I’ve done. But it’s a safe haven for them to learn and grow.
He a pretty “chill” guy…
I hate going into a place where you have to wear a sport coat. I can’t stand it. But also comfortable enough where you can wear flip-flops, which I like. That’s how I want it to be, and that’s how I am. I’m just chill.
How many clubs do you have to put a sport coat on, to go into the clubhouse? Or you can’t wear a hat on backward. Or shorts. At Augusta, you can’t wear shorts. I made the mistake myself. I know. I had shorts on, but thank God I had rain pants in my golf bag.
Why he plays the game and when he peaked…
I played for the hardware. I wanted to know that I beat everyone in this field, and I wanted them to know that they got their butt kicked. That to me was the absolute pure pleasure of competing.
By the time I was 11 years old, I had already won 113 tournaments. I peaked at 11, to be honest with you. I went 36 and 0 that year, never lost a tournament, all in California. And I probably had the cutest girlfriend in all of sixth grade. And I had straight As. No A-minuses. They were all perfect A’s … I’ve been trying to get back to that since.
These 10 points are just the tip of the iceberg of Woods’ most revealing interview in years (ever?) check it out on Time’s website.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Pingback: ‘I’ve Come to Realize That Now’: Tiger Woods Once Revealed the ‘Most Important Thing’ in His Life Other Than Golf – My Blog
ND Hickman
Dec 28, 2015 at 11:07 am
Ah it’s always fun to read the bitter comments of the Tiger haters. Half of you wouldn’t even be on this website if it weren’t for Woods. Hell this website might not exist if it weren’t for Wood’s.
Bernie Carter
Dec 6, 2015 at 1:10 am
It’s a joke to say that Tiger is irrelevant. He is still the biggest draw in the game by far. When he entered in the Quicken Loans in Greensboro this year ticket sales for the week were up 60,000 from the previous year. Concession sales were up by 60% and merchandise sales up by 55%. Not to mention that the 3rd round of the tournament had the highest ratings on a Saturday all year for a non-major.
No big names there…just Tiger.
Tom
Dec 5, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Your angst is showing, yet you came to this site read the article and took time to comment. Tiger must be more relevant than you give yourself credit for.
Steve
Dec 4, 2015 at 9:46 am
They need Tiger back. Without him it is extremely talented, extremely boring to watch tour players. You know it when they keep asking ” where to you think the game is now”? And they keep saying golf is in a very good place right now. Golf is not in a good place, ratings are low, participation is shrinking. Golf equipment companies are losing money. Future is not bright without Tiger
ooffa
Dec 4, 2015 at 8:22 am
This was all scripted. It’s a setup for his come back as an announcer. The network wants us to be able to relate to him. Bunch o crap is what it is. Great player – Bad guy. That’s the whole truth. Well, that and the fact that he’s washed up.
DatSliceDoe
Dec 4, 2015 at 8:45 am
What?
Dave
Dec 4, 2015 at 10:15 am
Sure am glad you are perfect?
Taylor
Dec 4, 2015 at 12:51 am
I love Tiger Woods, love watching him play because of the excitement he brought to the game. As much as people hate him for what he did, I can’t back him enough for his view on the future. Golf is a game, obviously his scandal has changed his life and unfortunately for the sports community we lost greatness. But the fact that he has focused his life now on his family and trying to build something that a lot of big athletes have to give up is nothing but a step in the right direction for Tiger. His injuries are obviously something way more major than what the critics presume. I would love to see Tiger back in his form, but I think it’s time we focus on the new young talent that is actually exciting to watch.
Shallowface
Dec 3, 2015 at 3:25 pm
I always find it interesting when a pro says he doesn’t watch golf on TV.
If all of a sudden we decided we all felt that way, there would be no PGA Tour. The only reason any form of entertainment exists is that someone will pay to watch it, or pay to sponsor broadcasts.
While I am sure I’ll start watching a bit again in the Spring, I stopped watching after the PGA Championship and I haven’t missed it. All of a sudden I’ve got all kinds of time to do things it turns out I’d rather be doing.
While it’s interesting that Tiger has decided to open up on a variety of topics (although as usual he really didn’t give us all that much), I imagine his professed lack of interest in televised golf is one the Tour wishes he had kept to himself
Fishy
Dec 4, 2015 at 2:15 am
You’ve basically nailed the reason why the moneys and the turn outs for the LPGA is so small. So think about it in those terms, where and how the money comes to the show.
I smell something fishy with this interview, there’s something else being planned, it sounds like
cody
Dec 7, 2015 at 8:38 am
This is not the first time he has said that. I remember after winning the US open and was sidelined due to knee surgery, that back then he didnt watch golf on TV. This all sounds like a guy that knows he is done and is trying to rewrite his history to a degree. Tiger may never win another event. he is the oldest 40 year old on the planet.
Amanda Boyd
Dec 3, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Why didn’t you tell him about us, Tiger?
alexdub
Dec 3, 2015 at 2:22 pm
+1
Comes across as a totally normal guy, huh. I still think that Tiger’s Thanksgiving disaster is one of the most significant things to happen in American sports this generation. Without it, and the injuries, this interview would have never happened with 39 y/o Tiger. But, such is life.
Still
Dec 3, 2015 at 12:22 pm
But, quoting Lindsey Vonn:
Tiger’s a dork.
And the stuff he says here proves it. He ain’t got a clue. Still.
slider
Dec 3, 2015 at 11:45 am
cmon tiger hoping you can get back out there I am glad you came to Chambers bay and I could see you play live