Tiger Woods return to the Masters Tournament is ‘bigger than golf’: Author
‘Tiger Woods’ co-creator Jeff Benedict joins Yahoo Finance Reside to explore the resilience of Tiger Woods in excess of the a long time and what his return to the 2022 Masters Event suggests for followers.
Video clip Transcript
– Welcome back. The hottest chapter in the Tiger Woods saga, quite frankly, just about every little bit as compelling as the very first. 25 several years just after tiger came to Augusta and took the overall golf globe by storm, he is now back as a 46-calendar year-aged, 14 months eradicated from approximately dropping a leg in a really serious motor vehicle incident, five back again surgical procedures deep, and still, in rivalry after the very first spherical of the Masters. Quite a amazing story.
Jeff Benedict is the writer of the New York Occasions most effective marketing ebook, “Tiger Woods.” He joins Brad and I now. Jeff, excellent to have you on. Your ebook was printed back in 2018, what appears to be like a life span ago in the Tiger tale. How do you explain what is unfolding at Augusta this week?
JEFF BENEDICT: It type of reminds me essentially of the working experience of composing the ebook, you know? Though we have been in the midst of creating the e-book, he was observed on the facet of the street in Florida in a car that was– that the motor was nonetheless on, and he was at the rear of the wheel. And tires were being blown out, and he was, you know, basically, unconscious. And I don’t forget, when that happened, we were being just about completed with the e book, and we were being contemplating, how do we deal with that?
And I feel his– 1 of the matters that is so powerful and interesting about Tiger is he is been through so numerous items that are exceptional to him in phrases of specialist golfing. There’s no other golfer which is been in the sorts of scenarios he’s been in, and this is yet another one of these. I consider what likely separates this from what we’ve noticed in the earlier is just him acquiring again on the study course immediately after the most latest incident feels a tiny additional miraculous than some of the comebacks he is experienced in the earlier.
– Does this appear like a distinctive Tiger Woods to you, Jeff?
JEFF BENEDICT: Effectively, distinct in a few of strategies. I signify, number one, his leg and foot are literally reconstructed. Selection two, he’s, naturally, more mature. It is really been interesting to enjoy him age.
He is now a single of the oldest gamers on the TOUR. And if he were being to earn this weekend, he would be the oldest player in heritage to get the Masters. But, you know, to be straightforward, he seems to be remarkably superior. He appears to be like in shape.
Actually, he looks in far better condition than a whole lot of the men he’s competing from, even though a lot of them are a good deal older than him, and he seems rather happy. I indicate, when you see him in the push conferences and in the exchanges he’s had with some of the supporters, you can convey to, he is actually truly joyful to be there. It is really fantastic to see that, of training course.
– The business of Tiger is nonetheless amazing when you appear at the Masters grounds. Yesterday, it seemed a large amount like a sunlight, 20, 30 deep. The ratings will unquestionably be through the roof. The tickets are at an all time superior. Sports activities betting has surged to an all time high.
All of the money is on Tiger. Not just to get, but to make the cut, and even to skip the reduce. He so dominates the sport from a business enterprise standpoint. Is there any draw back to it in phrases of blocking out the sunshine from the whole rest of the subject, and how do you quantify the Tiger impact on the golf world?
JEFF BENEDICT: Properly, look, no 1 has in the history of the video game has had as profound of effect on the sport as Tiger. I really don’t consider it is a extend to say that he genuinely broke the shade barrier. Clearly, there had been golfers of shade who performed the match before him, but Tiger came along. And when he won the masters and broke in the way he did, that was– in terms of a person of coloration breaking down limitations, that was big. But then the economic implications that came together with his success, he is created every person richer.
All of these gamers on the tour currently are earning purses and endorsement specials that are as big as they are for the reason that of him. And I feel a great deal of the gamers now, they recognize that he’s produced them wealthier. He’s finished a great deal for sponsorship. I suggest, there’s just so many ways.
The networks appreciate him, due to the fact they know that there’ll be a whole lot a lot more eyeballs on the tournaments that they are broadcasting if Tiger’s playing. So I you should not really see a downside. I are not able to imagine that any of these tours or golf equipment are upset when they have so lots of persons there that they in fact have to transform them away.
– You know, it’s fascinating, and to your stage, Tiger always does call out the historical achievements that he has produced, but also, these that have occur before him in Charlie Sifford, and Lee Elder, and other Black American golfers and golfers of colour that have taken the phase and damaged some of people barriers. Tiger surely elevated it to a various stage. But to Dave’s issue, it seems like, write-up Tiger, there could be this vacuum for the sport, and how the activity definitely navigates that is the future massive question that they have to encounter.
JEFF BENEDICT: Yeah, it is, because he has had– he’s this sort of an outsized figure in society. It really is even bigger than golfing. I imply, there are so quite a few folks who tune in to look at him engage in that never like golf. There’s no way to compensate for that when he’s absent.
I mean, the figures of individuals who will check out Tv set this weekend just mainly because he is on Tv set, they’d by no means view an additional tournament. They will not enjoy golf. They never even treatment about the sport, but they’re invested in him. That is hard to change. I signify, he is kind of like Muhammad Ali, or Babe Ruth, kind of these as soon as in a century determine that attracts fandom that goes over and above the border of the activity they perform. And Tiger is definitely that sort of athlete.
– Experienced he not built this comeback, the absence of his genuinely only peer may well have been a big tale. Phil Mickelson is not there for the reason that of some feedback, arguably, a bit offensive about Saudi Arabia, but beautiful to see the enterprise downfall. Phil lost all of his sponsorships. He was prime 10 in the planet in terms of athletes endorsements. Are you shocked at the downfall of Phil given anything Tiger Woods went as a result of so publicly, and all people, which include the company globe, ongoing to embrace him?
JEFF BENEDICT: Effectively, I mean, glance, people are difficult, and I’m not going to profess to be an expert on Phil Mickelson. I’m not. What I would say is, to me, what is definitely attention-grabbing right here from the Tiger side of this equation– and there’s two components. Number a person, Tiger is so popular and so attention-grabbing to persons that he has, generally, to Phil’s gain, wiped that tale out of everyone’s minds right now.
In some approaches, which is a blessing for Phil, mainly because nobody cares about that appropriate now or is conversing about it. And you might be ideal. If Tiger wasn’t in this tournament, there would be a great sum of concentration on Phil’s absence.
The 2nd thing is it is really interesting that Tiger– Tiger’s been through so lots of community– I never want– they are not all scandals. But he has had some of these, as well, but so much adverse publicity about the years. He is so a lot far more accustomed to it, utilised to it, seasoned by it, appreciates how to deal with it. Phil has constantly had the standing, you know, the type of good outdated boy that every person liked.
It truly is attention-grabbing how the tables have turned. Tiger’s now, I believe, the most beloved figure in the sport, both on and off the system. I imply, all people likes him, and in a weird way, even the guys he is competing versus who, definitely, they want to earn. But I assume it is really a very little bit like, when you are a young quarterback, and you went to the NFL, and you get to engage in in opposition to Tom Brady, you happen to be sort of in awe that you might be basically enjoying from the person that, when you were being a child, you emulated. You can find a ton of guys on the TOUR now that are like that with Tiger.
– Speaking of, the two most powerful athletes on the earth are 46 and 44 years previous, Tom Brady, a extraordinary change of events. Jeff, we look forward to Tiger Woods, as well, due to the fact you happen to be heading to have to publish that guide as nicely. There is certainly no doubt about it. I take pleasure in it, sir. Appreciate the relaxation of the Masters.
