Woods’ book recounts historic 1997 Masters win

Most golf fans know that Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters Tournament to become the youngest winner at Augusta National Golf Club. They also know that he set records for lowest 72-hole total (270) and margin of victory (12) in his record-breaking week.

In The 1997 Masters: My Story by Woods and veteran golf writer Lorne Rubenstein, they cover the basics of his victory in his first major as a professional.

What you might not know is that Woods and his housemates that week made regular trips to Arby’s and blared hip-hop music as they left Augusta National on Sunday night, and that he had regrets over how he handled some things in the aftermath of his win.

Woods starts with brief recaps of his first two trips to Augusta to play in the Masters as an amateur. He entered the 1997 Masters with the spotlight focused on him.

Woods goes day by day through that magical week 20 years ago. He played early practice rounds with Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, picking their brains on how to solve Augusta’s mysteries.

Woods admitted he was wary of the media at his Tuesday news conference. “I didn’t know who I could trust, and so I wasn’t going to say whatever came to mind,” he wrote.

Woods got off to a rocky start with 4-over 40 for his first nine holes.

“I was dimly aware that some were saying the tournament was already over for me,” he wrote.

Woods responded with four birdies and an eagle to shoot 70 and get back in contention. After the round, his pals were hungry and stopped at Arby’s.

“I didn’t know this would turn into a nightly ritual for the rest of the week,” Woods wrote.

He followed with rounds of 66 and 65 to seize the tournament by the throat. Even with a nine-shot lead, Woods took nothing for granted. After all, Greg Norman had blown a six-shot lead the year before.

Woods closed with 69, and with his win he became the first black golfer to win the Masters. He shared moments with his family and Lee Elder, the first black golfer to play in the Masters.

“My objective was to win the tournament, so I had to set aside my feelings about it taking so long for Augusta to invite a black player to the Masters and to admit black members,” Woods wrote. “I had to play. I couldn’t have gone to the first tee and let my mind dwell on these facts.”

After his obligations as champion, Woods headed out in his courtesy car. Someone popped in a CD by Quad City DJ’s and they played C’Mon N’ Ride It (The Train) “at full blast as we drove down Magnolia Lane to Washington Road,” Woods wrote.

Woods took a planned vacation after his win, and he wrote that he wasn’t aware that Fuzzy Zoeller had made some unflattering comments about what Woods might serve at the following year’s Champions Dinner.

“I felt both confused and angry, and wasn’t sure what to do,” Woods wrote. A month later, Woods and Zoeller buried the issue when they had lunch at Colonial.

Woods also was invited by Presi­dent Clinton to attend a special ceremony to honor the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. But he declined because of his vacation plans.

Both incidents helped Woods learn that his actions were closely scrutinized and had consequences.

“Maybe I was only twenty-one, but I realized I had some growing up to do,” Woods wrote.

One of the last chapters deals with changes to Augusta National since Woods’ landmark win. Woods says he would get rid of the second cut, remove the trees planted off the fairway at Nos. 9 and 11, and put the mounds back on the 15th fairway.

And, he wrote, “I’m sure Augusta National will keep making changes to the course to keep up with technology, but if they ever lengthen 12, I’m out of there.”