Tiger Woods Recalls Painful 2006 Masters Loss

For a man who doesn’t like talking about past defeats, it was very difficult for Tiger Woods to open about his most painful Masters of all – when he failed to win the 2006 title, knowing that this was the last time that his beloved dad would be able to watch him play.

“That Masters hurt,” said Woods in an interview which he gave this week, ahead of his attempt to end a Masters drought which has been raging since 2008. “There’s never been another defeat that’s felt like that.”

“I’ve lost tournaments before, and I’ve been through some tough defeats over the years, but nothing like that because I knew my dad would never live to see another Major championship,” he recalled. “At the time, going into that final round and on the back nine, as I later admitted, I pressed too hard and I tried to make putts, instead of just allowing it to happen. I tried to force it. I knew he was at home watching, and I just really wanted to have him be a part of one last Major championship victory. And I didn’t get it done.”

Tiger Woods is hoping to add to his 14 Major titles this week as he hits the greens at Augusta and end a dry period of seven years. While some may say that Woods’ days are over to be champion once more, it shouldn’t be forgotten that this year, for the first time, he has reclaimed the world’s Number One title after two back to back victories. Woods also seems to have shaken off off the sex scandals of yesteryear and has settled down to domestic bliss with skier Lindsay Vorm. It is clearly a calmer and more mature Woods who joins August this week, although he hasn’t lost his drive or ambition. Woods is aiming to beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles.

“It took Jack Nicklaus a while to get to 18, all the way until he was 46 years old,” said Woods. “So there’s plenty of opportunities for me. We have very expansive careers and I feel like I’m basically right in the middle of mine. I have a lot of good years ahead of me and I’m excited about this week.”