Tiger Woods will not be at Augusta National this year and his absence is a real shame for not only himself, but for everyone who loves the game.
Woods has won The Masters five times throughout his career but his off-the-course issues have prevented him from playing at Augusta National this year.
Now Gary Player has made a statement on Woods ahead of the 90th edition of The Masters.
Player is one of the biggest legends in the professional game, having won nine major championships, including three Masters titles.
The diminutive South African is behind only three men on the all-time major wins list, and Tiger Woods is one of them.
However, the 50-year-old will not get a chance to add to his 15 major championship wins this week at Augusta National.
Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest two weeks ago stunned the golfing world and as a result of that, and his attempts in seeking professional help, he is not in The Masters field this week.
Gary Player makes statement on Tiger Woods ahead of The Masters
Player always shares his true feelings when he speaks, and that is what makes him so fascinating to listen to.
During his press conference at Augusta National on Thursday morning, Player was asked how he feels about Woods’ current situation.
“You know, it’s very easy, the human being is so critical of everything,“ the nine-time major champion said.
“If I or any of you in this room had the pain that Tiger Woods had — think of the excruciating pain that this man has been going through for a long time.
“I personally think in my opinion — if I’m right or wrong, I’m sorry — but he was trying to be a Navy SEAL scout for a while. Funny enough, I had a friend who was a Navy SEAL scout. He said this long ago. He said Tiger will really suffer in future with his back and with his legs. Look what’s happened? I think it’s 20 operations on either the back or the legs, but many, many operations on his leg and his back. So he’s in pain.
“Do I blame him for taking medicine? Hell, no. He has sleep deprivation. Do I blame him for taking something to help him sleep? No. But I don’t think he should drive a car. When you’re taking that medicine, it’s dangerous when you’re driving a car, same as it’s dangerous when you look at your cell phone in the car. There’s 6,000 accidents a day in motor cars.
“So I think all he’s got to do is just not drive a car and get a chauffeur. My reflexes, I think, are as good as when I was 20, but I don’t drive anymore. I get a chauffeur. I think that’s the answer to it.
“But my heart goes out for him. There’s nothing worse than living in pain every day of your life. You can’t think of anything worse. I just hope he can get it all sorted out because he’s such an asset to golf and has done so much for the game.“
Gary Player praises Tiger Woods’ impact on professional golf
Player told reporters on Thursday that Woods has completely transcended the game.
“There was never — when we were young people, there were no Blacks playing the TOUR, guys,“ Player explained.
“I remember going to Charlie Sifford in 1957, and I said, ‘Mr. Sifford, how did you play today’? He said, ‘I’m not allowed to play, I’m Black’.
“So I experienced Apartheid in South Africa and in America. Tiger comes along, and you realize what he does for the Black man around the world, you can never work out what he’s done for golf. So my heart goes out for him.“
Gary Player is 100 per cent correct about the positive impact that Tiger Woods has had on the game throughout his career.
Let’s hope that he’s back in the field at The Masters in 2027.
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