Opinion & Analysis
Tiger confirms he will play in the 2015 Masters
After rampant speculation and embarrassingly heavy reporting on the whereabouts of Tiger Woods (and his private jet), the golfer announced his intention to play the 2015 Masters in the most straightforward way possible: 10 words on his Twitter account.
I’M PLAYING IN THE MASTERS. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT. HTTP://T.CO/SYIH4ESXUA
— TIGER WOODS (@TIGERWOODS) APRIL 3, 2015
If you’ve consumed any golf media at all these last two years, you’re well aware that Tiger has been playing by far the worst golf of his career. And because of all the injuries he’s suffered since the fall of 2013, the “Tiger is coming back” story has been written more than enough times.
Let’s take a different approach.
Tiger said he’s “worked hard on his game” and is “looking forward to competing” — I’m sure he has and I’m sure he is. But all that can reasonably be hoped for is that Tiger is actually healthy, and that he’s sured up his sloppy short game.
Maybe he can make the cut without a wince of pain? Wouldn’t that be an accomplishment for a golfer who hasn’t completed a competitive round of golf since Feb. 2, and hasn’t shot under par in a professional event since Dec. 8, 2014?
Of course, it will be hard not to root for Tiger to do what seems impossible and slip on his fifth Green Jacket — if for no other reason than to return to the time when we used to write about the 39-year-old’s greatness.
If Tiger falls on his face at Augusta National, maybe we won’t be shocked by it this time? After all, I heard he shot 74 in his practice round on Tuesday. That’s important, right?
Aronimink is not a storied club, but when Donald Ross himself proclaimed it to be as good as he can design and build, one had to take notice. Jay Sigel was the pre-eminent male amateur golfer from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He might have called any number of Philadelphia clubs home, but he chose Aronimink. It served him well. Gary Player won a PGA Championship here in 1962, and was followed by the 1993 winner … nobody. Aronimink gave that event away to Inverness, for reasons of which it is certainly not proud. So be it. We had to wait sixty-four years for the PGA to return to Newtown Square, but here we are. Aronimink has been neo-restored by Gil Hanse and team, to return Ross features with an eye toward defense against the dark arts, errrr, high-tech equipment.
Day one saw Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau dig big holes, to the tune of plus-four and plus-six, respectively. Since the first-round lead will be minus-three at worst, many shots will need to be made up for the power couple to reach contention. By nightfall, seven golfers held the day-one lead at three-under par 67. Shots and sticks caught our attention, and we are proud to present Five Things We Learned on Tech Thursday at the 2026 PGA Championship. Thanks to InsideTourGolfer, Today’s Golfer, and GolfWRX for initial equipment research.
First, meet Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee, aka Dr. Chipinski, has once again thrust himself into the conversation of Can he, will he, when will he? Lee has so much talent, wins not nearly as often as we believe that he should, and has no major near-misses (much less titles) on his wiki. The young Aussie is getting older and wiser, but is he able to avoid the scarring that holds the older and wiser back from breaking through? Philadelphia offers another opportunity. Min Woo signed for five birdies and two bogeys on day one, and grabbed a share of the opening-day lead at Aronimink. Winners transcend history and the moment, and Lee will need that sort of ascent to lift the Wannamaker on Sunday.
Second, meet Aldrich Potgeiter
The young South African golfer can rip driver with the best of them. Aronimink tips out at nearly 7400 yards, but beyond the fairway bunkers that ensnare only the mortals, Potgeiter can take his chances with wedge from the rough. On Thursday, he spent plenty of time in the spinach. Like Popeye, he used his muscles to gouge and thrash and dig his way out. Six birdies against three bogeys on the card brought AP in a three deep.
Third, meet Martin Kaymer
Not a major event takes place without a where’s he been throwback moment. We know that Martin Kaymer left the PGA and DP World tours for LIV golf, but the two-time (US Open and PGA) major winner has a lifetime exemption into at least one major event, and he seizes the opportunity each May. Kaymer joined the six-seven brigade with four birdies and a solitary bogey on day one. Kaymer was never a long hitter, and the years are kind to no golfer. The German champion will need to uncork every bottle of guile and strategy in his cabinet to remain in contention. For today, though, he occupies a rung on the ladder of Tour Tech.
Fourth, meet Scottie Scheffler
Let’s see, he’s the defending champion at the PGA, and he found his way back to the top tier with five birdies against two bogeys. To be a favorite and then play up to that stature and expectation is quite difficult. Just ask Rory, Bryson, and some of the other pre-tournament heartthrobs. Scheffler’s game is complete, and to knock him off the OWGR #1 pedestal, one needs to defeat him at the majors. Aronimink is the sort of course that fits Scheffler’s game. Better yet, it unfits the game of many of his challengers. Don’t expect Scheffler to go away anytime soon. Come Sunday, he’ll be around.
Fifth, meet Stephan Jaeger
Clocking in for the unheralded players shift are Ryo Hisatsune and Stephan Jaeger. Hisatsune logged seven birdies on day one, but gave most of them back with four bogeys. Still, he’s tied at the top for a time. Jaeger pitched five birdies against two bogeys, including a run of three consecutive, from holes four through six. Odds are that one of the two will hang around through 36 holes. Odds also suggest that both will be gone by Saturday evening. Still, the PGA Championship has historically been the major most likely to be won by an under-known. Both Hisatsune and Jaeger feature on that list, so good luck, lads!
On this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, I head to the Titleist Performance Institute for a full driver fitting with the new Titleist GTS lineup. We dive into the fitting process, talk about what made the biggest difference in performance, and break down how the different GTS heads and shaft combinations compare on the launch monitor. If you are thinking about a new driver setup for this season, there is a lot to take away from this one.
I also get into Brooks Koepka and the gear setup he brought to the PGA Championship, including the putters that caught my eye during the week. There are some interesting equipment trends showing up at the highest level right now and we break down what stands out.
To wrap things up, I talk about reshafting a few wedges, what I learned during the process, and swapping an adaptor onto a new shaft for another build project in the shop. A gear packed episode from start to finish for anyone who loves golf equipment and club building.
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Excited for this week’s WITB as we get to add the new Titleist GTS woods to the bag! I was fit at Titleist’s TPI facility in Oceanside California a few weeks ago and my new clubs just showed up. I am also adding a cool set of irons that I built last year some wild custom wedges into a new golf bag. Speaking of the bag I have a new Ghost Anyday Black Ops stand bag that I will be using on my Motocaddy Remote M7 electric cart.
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (11 degrees @ 10.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 6s
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD CQ-7s
5-wood: Titleist GTS (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s
9-wood: Titleist GT1 (24 degress)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s
Irons: Bettinardi CB24 (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper Lite 110 stiff
Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (50-09 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff
Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (56-12 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff
Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (60-08 LB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff
Putter: Dan Carraher ZT Proto
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
Bag: Ghost Anyday Black Ops Stand Bag
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Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
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Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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RG
Apr 6, 2015 at 7:35 pm
First off I think the game is better with Tiger in it. Love him or hate him he’s done things no one here can even understand, like winning a US Open by 15 shots. BUT
When I saw Tiger up close I saw fear in his eyes when he was chipping, said so on this site. I live in Orlando and have watched Tiger many times thru the years ( Bay Hill, Disney, Tavistock) and his body language and demeanor have changed. Swing mechanics, glutes firing, whatever, the dude is different in his eyes. Laugh, make jokes, but when Tiger used to hit chips/ pitches he would lock on grab a club look once maybe twice fire and stick it, like a frickin machine, Now he looks back and forth, goes back and forth over club, takes five practice swings and CHUNK.
Prediction: If he conquers THE FEAR and hits some good short shots ( I don’t care what he does off the tee or from the fairway) He will rebuild and regain his form.
If THE FEAR gets him and he chunks or blades or flubs some chips/pitches he will WD claim some physical issue and he will retire from competitive golf.
bwoody01
Apr 6, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Loved, hated, but never ignored. When you’ve hit rock bottom in your career, there is only one place to go. Tiger knows this, the Fans know this, and all the haters know it as well. Here’s to wishing Tiger Woods a great return to the game. The Master’s needs him, the golf industry (that is on decline) needs him, and the love of the game needs him. I am looking forward to seeing him tee it up regardless of the outcomes.
Steve H
Apr 6, 2015 at 8:44 am
Tiger would have finished last in the Girls 7-9 chipping contest yesterday!
Justin S.
Apr 6, 2015 at 7:26 am
When he says playing, does he mean hitting his first tee shot then walking away like Arnie and Jack?
don davis
Apr 4, 2015 at 2:07 pm
He had to play. The biggest name in the game will bring an giant buzz to the Masters. Lovers and haters cannot wait. You got to admit the guy can really ramp up the interest in the sport. Does anyone think that the pressure may get to him? Deep down we all know that sports needs stars and Tiger is a star.
Mlegolf
Apr 5, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Yes sports needs stars, wake up it’s the masters and the field will be strong, full of them. Some will shine much more by their game rather than their off course so called social life.
But because the society is avid of voyeurism, we’ll hear more about him rather than them.
Sad for the other players, sad for the game.
Gubment Cheez
Apr 4, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Oh he’s gonna play
And by God
He’s gonna win
Curt
Apr 4, 2015 at 11:14 am
All the Tiger haters on this site are hilarious, while Tiger is laughing all the way to the bank!!!
Know dat!!!
Forsbrand
Apr 5, 2015 at 3:40 am
I don’t think they’re tiger haters they just don’t appreciate tiger. The great thing about tiger being in the field at the Masters is whoever wins can say they’ve beaten the very best, it will add more merit to a victory. I hope a Tiger lasts the weekend, should be interesting.
CatFoodFace
Apr 4, 2015 at 10:29 am
Two letters: MC
Rob
Apr 4, 2015 at 2:45 pm
WD
JB
Apr 4, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Two words: You’re pathetic
Whether it’s this tournament, the next, or next season. Tiger will win again and he will do so laughing at all of you haters…
Jonny B
Apr 6, 2015 at 10:29 am
That was actually a lot more than two words.
mike
Apr 4, 2015 at 10:19 am
Tiger will finish in the top 10 if he shows up with his gaggle of girls
mlecuni
Apr 4, 2015 at 10:17 am
Go Tiger !
It will be hard and may be not for this time but keep grinding.
Stay patient because at the end Victory is waiting for you !
Be the greatest
The dude
Apr 4, 2015 at 8:21 am
Q the Bizhub Konica Minolta swing vision Peter
The dude
Apr 4, 2015 at 8:18 am
He also confirmed he will only play Thursday and Friday
Rich
Apr 4, 2015 at 8:00 am
Oh well, you can’t have everything in life you want………..
Forsbrand
Apr 4, 2015 at 3:09 am
So glad Tiger is back
Kyle
Apr 3, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Zac, Haney tweeted leading to Augusta in 2010 he played 2 practice rounds and didn’t break 80 and finished 4th. I think 74 is a pretty good start
Booger
Apr 3, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Dead last again just like Phoenix.
matt
Apr 4, 2015 at 8:07 pm
he was not dead last sorry bud
barak
Apr 3, 2015 at 7:37 pm
Zak:
Please sign up for a basic writing class soon. Also, I’m not sure who’s son you are but please convince whoever is paying the bills for this operation that you need a new website design ASAP. The “legit..flop..shank” rating thing is stupid. The website used to be half decent but has become convoluted, unfocused and lacking in consistently good content.
Barak
devilsadvocate
Apr 3, 2015 at 9:39 pm
I think this site is great… Your comment however deserves a rating of shank… Maybe even whiff … Keep your opinions to yourself Mr President
Find another site
Apr 3, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Comment, Flop….
jim
Apr 3, 2015 at 5:18 pm
go tiger I am still a fan
Chuck
Apr 3, 2015 at 4:48 pm
Such a relief to know that Nike’s planed Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday ensembles for Tiger Woods won’t go to waste. Well, at least not Thursday and Friday.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/tiger-woods-masters-will-he-play-nike-clothing-wont-wear
Mark
Apr 3, 2015 at 4:46 pm
I think he’s doing the right thing. His first chip shot will be the most scrutinized shot in golf history. This will be interesting to watch.