The 2020 virtual Masters: The 10 statistical favorites
By Bill Felber
Tiger Woods, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 (2001-2010), -1.54
Criticizing Woods record between 2001 and 2010 involves a substantial amount of picking at nits. He won three times, finished second two other times, and only twice came home worse than sixth. The worst you can say is that unlike some of Woods’ other Major triumphs –notably his 1997 Masters and 2000 U.S. Open – his wins were not soul-crushing. They were merely effective.
Still, his potential to emerge in a virtual event can never be minimized.
His 2001 victory, which gave Woods simultaneous possession of all four Majors, came at -16 by two strokes over David Duval. They were even through 12 holes, but a birdie at 13 threw Woods ahead and he nailed it down with another birdie at 18.
He repeated in 2002, by three shots over Retief Goosen, then in 2005 used that memorable chip on 16 to wrench the trophy from Chris DiMarco. Because Woods followed that seared-in-the-memory moment by bogeying 17 and 18, he and DiMarco went to a playoff which Woods won with a birdie on the first hole.
The victory was Woods’ last at Augusta until 2019, but not his last contending moment. He tied for third, three behind Phil Mickelson, in 2006, and finished second, two behind Zach Johnson, in 2007. He also finished second, three behind Trevor immelman, in 2008 and tied for fourth, five behind Mickelson, in 2010.