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Golf legend says Tiger would have won ’20 majors minimum’ if he didn’t do this one thing

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About three hours before Tiger Woods started his round at the 86th edition of The Masters, golfing legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson played their honorary tee shots.

The three phenomena of the game have possession of 11 green jackets between them, with Nicklaus holding a record six Masters titles, just one clear of Woods, returning for his first full tournament since this event two years ago.

Given recent history, it would certainly be the stuff of dreams should the 46-year-old, 15-time major champion return from serious injury to tie Nicklaus’s number, perhaps on his way to overtaking Nicklaus’ total of 18 majors.

Before the event, that prospect looked very far away, but he looked in fine condition during yesterday’s first round one-under 71. Whilst pulling a few tee shots way left, his overall level of play left more than a few cynics suitably impressed.

However, nine-time major champion Player insists that Woods could have, indeed should have, won more. Speaking to media following the honorary tee shots, the South African said:

“Tiger Woods, if he never had lessons, he would have won 20 majors minimum.”

He explained further:

“But, after winning the US Open by 15 shots, he’s having a lesson the next week, and he doesn’t win a major, not to denigrate the man who taught him, but he changed his whole swing. Why?”

“When he’s winning every week almost and one of every four tournaments, he goes and changes his swing and he doesn’t win a major for 11 years.”

Whatever the reason, Player seems to be pointing to the ‘blank’ years of 2003 and 2004, the only two years in seven that were non-major winning years, and 2009 to 2018, years that were affected by personal issues and injury.

Back to the halcyon days when coached by Butch Harmon, Woods won eight of his 24 starts in a major, including a 12-shot victory at Augusta and a 15-shot romp at the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach.

After that first round, he is in with a chance again, this time chasing a ‘miracle’ that would put the 2019 comeback victory well into the shade, and would no doubt prompt comment from the always outspoken Player.

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19th Hole

“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene

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On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”

In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.

Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”

“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”

“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”

 

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A post shared by Rich Eisen (@richeisen)


Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.

If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.

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Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

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While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.

“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.

“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”

The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.

“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”

Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).

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Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

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While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.

On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.

“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.

“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”

The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.

It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.

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