On April 13, 1997, a 21-year-old golf legend named Tiger Woods won his first Masters with a record-breaking performance.

It is not unreasonable to suggest that four days changed golf forever. The victory resonated around the world.

Tiger should not have won the 1997 Masters. And certainly not in 12 strokes. But he did it, with style and authority and since then, the golfer has transcended the sport.

His victory is now perhaps best remembered for Jim Nantz’s call after he sank his final putt before embracing his father Earl.

But there are some things you may have forgotten. After all, it’s been 27 years!

GolfMagic decided to take a trip down memory lane…

Here are 10 things you may have forgotten about Tiger Woods’ 1997 Masters championship

1. Tiger Woods opens with a 9 40!

Tiger got off to a terrible start, bogeying Nos. 1, 4, 8 and 9.

Only Tiger knows what happened between his ears on the 10th tee. But he fixed whatever was wrong with his swing and took off on the course.

2. He came back after 30

Tiger birdied Nos. 10, 12, 13 and 17. Drove for eagle at 15 and Woods played the back nine at 6 under to post a 2-under 70.

I think this could be called conversion.

3. Fuzzy Zoeller’s extremely racist comments about Tiger

Fuzzy Zoeller is an excellent player and has racked up 10 PGA Tour wins in his career, but he will always be known as the guy who said this about Tiger when asked about the 21-year-old after the first round description:

He’s doing quite well, quite impressive. That boy drives very well and throws the ball very well. He’s doing everything necessary to win. So do you know what you’ll do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations, enjoy it, and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Understood. Or collard greens or whatever they serve.”

Zoeller later apologized but the backlash was swift, with Dunlop and Kmart dropping the golfer.

4. Sound by Colin Montgomerie!

Monty said:

“It’s humanly impossible for Tiger to lose this tournament. This is different. This is very different. [Nick] Faldo was not in second place from the start, and Greg Norman is not Tiger Woods. ”

5. Tiger is a skinny guy

Even now at the age of 47, Tiger is still in incredible shape. Absolutely torn. While recovering from his February 2021 car accident in his mansion, he used crutches to get around. His triceps became huge and he came back looking more toned than ever.

But back in ’97? He weighs 155 pounds! Yet he was still stoned by everyone.

6. Tiger played 37 holes without making a bogey

Tiger dropped a shot on the third hole of the second round and wouldn’t hit another until the fifth hole in the final round.

That’s clearly some of the things going on at Augusta National.

7. Record number of viewers

About 43 million viewers watched Tiger’s victory. To this day, this is the highest rated final round from a major championship of all time!

8. Tiger’s menu

Of course, one of the great traditions of The Masters is the Dinner of Champions.

Tiger was just a kid so in 1998, past champions were served burgers, fries and milkshakes.

9. A record-breaking victory

You know that Tiger won by 12 shots. That major championship streak stood for three years until Tiger once again crushed the entire field at the 2000 US Open, winning by 15!

10. Jim Nantz

Jim Nantz is synonymous with Augusta.

His call for ‘a win for the ages’ remains one of the most memorable in Masters history.

It heralds a new era in the world of golf. Television ratings soared after Tiger’s victory. He made golf ‘cool’.