Dear Industry Colleague

“I told you so” is not a normal phrase to bandy about in polite society, but perhaps on this occasion you will forgive me. The golf world was united in its delight to see the great Tiger Woods triumph again at Augusta. Always a good celebrant, I have never seen Tiger Woods as emotional and elated as he laid waste to all of his doubters on Sunday at the Masters and fell into the warm embrace of his family.

Having witnessed Tiger Woods in person on just a few occasions, but studied his game, style, personality and aura through various media channels over the last 23 years, I have become quite a ‘Tiger watcher’ - haven’t we all? I have never doubted that he would rebound and win majors again. His talent is just so immense and his will power just too intense. His fall from grace was pretty spectacular even by Hollywood standards - the collapse of his marriage due to plenty of grubby adultery, driving under the influence and multiple rounds of surgery, left many thinking he was a spent force. He never was. Although the problems surrounding him looked insurmountable to many, once he had solved the physical issue with his spinal fusion in 2017, there was no doubt that he would win majors again - in my mind and in his. I had thought he would convert his slender lead at Carnoustie, before Francesco Molinari outplayed him over the last few holes. Perhaps it was fitting that on this occasion it was Molinari’s slip that allowed Tiger to stride through the door to sporting immortality. Fabulous stuff and a memory that will live in our hearts and minds forever.

Tiger is back, but Molinari should not be too damaged by losing. I think his misjudgement on 12 was straightforward and perhaps a sign of inexperience, but there were no miscues. He flushed almost every shot he hit and I was delighted to see that the reason for his second visit to the water on 15 was caused not by a duff, but by him clipping one of the overhanging branches. These pieces of evidence in a golfer’s back catalogue are much more easily erased from the memory than if you find yourself duffing the ball when the pressure really counts. Molinari, McIlroy, Koepka will all be favourites for the USPGA Championships in the earlier date this May. But Tiger Woods will win this as well. The Bethpage Black course was the scene of his US Open triumph in 2002. Who would bet against it? Tiger Tiger Tiger

Best wishes Colin Jenkins