Few athletes are as universally respected as Tiger Woods is today.
Since undergoing another back surgery in October, fans have been eager to see him back on the course. His 2019 Masters win only added to his popularity, making him a favourite among both fans and fellow players.
He’s also become something of a mentor. You’ll often hear younger stars like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler speak about the influence he’s had on their careers, always open to share advice or help them through challenges.
But that wasn’t always the case for Woods. Early in his career, he was more focused on beating his peers than helping them out, which may explain why some thought he struggled in team settings like the Ryder Cup.
His rivalry with Sergio Garcia also played a role in shaping that image. The tension between them began at the 2013 Players Championship and continued for years, with Garcia later suggesting that Woods wasn’t particularly liked within PGA Tour circles.
Why Sergio Garcia once called Tiger Woods ‘not the most popular guy’ on the PGA Tour
The tension between Woods and Garcia began at the 2013 Players Championship when Garcia accused Woods of distracting him during a shot. As Garcia was preparing to hit, Woods pulled out a 5-wood, which drew cheers from the crowd.
Garcia, about 50 yards away at the time, missed his shot to the right. While Woods wasn’t in his direct line of sight, Garcia believed the crowd noise played a role in his miss.
It’s worth noting that from where he stood, Woods couldn’t have seen Garcia or anticipated that pulling a club would cause such a reaction. Still, it didn’t stop things from escalating between them. Over time, this turned into ongoing jabs and comments.
Later that year at Wentworth, Garcia said: “He called me a whiner. That’s probably right. It’s also probably the first thing he’s told you guys that’s true in 15 years. I know what he is like. You guys are finding out… he is not the most popular guy on tour.”
Garcia would later appear on A Question of Sport where he kept things going:
“The problem is I’m one of the guys that has to say something,” continued Garcia on A Question Of Sport.
“A lot of people think about it but don’t want to say anything. He can and will beat me a lot of times but he is not going to step on me. I’m not afraid of him.”
Tiger was well-known for playing mind games with his opponents throughout his career, but this particular incident wasn’t really an example of that tactic in play.
How Tiger Woods’ Presence Impacted Players on the PGA Tour
Woods wasn’t just another name in the field. His fame brought a level of attention and noise that was hard for anyone around him to ignore, especially during big events like the Ryder Cup or when he was grouped with others during regular tournaments.
Geoff Ogilvy spoke about this ahead of Woods’ much-anticipated return to golf in 2010. He said, “That first week he comes back, it’s going to be a circus. It will be hard if you have to play with him that week, for sure.”
The challenges weren’t limited to just his playing partners. Rory McIlroy pointed out in 2018 how even Woods must have felt the strain from the constant attention.
McIlroy explained, “I swear, playing in front of all that, he gives up half a shot a day on the field. It’s two shots a tournament he has to give to the field because of all that goes on around (him).
“So whether that calms down the more he plays and it doesn’t become such a novelty that he’s back out playing again because it’s – it’s tiring. I need a couple Advil just to – I’ve got a headache after all that.
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“Whoever’s teeing off at 8:30 in the morning doesn’t get that and can just go about his business and just do his thing. That’s tough. He has to deal with that every single time he goes out to play.”
Tiger made it look easy for years. Not everyone is cut out for what comes with being under constant scrutiny, but Woods never let it define him.
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