Tiger Woods’ historic victory at the 1997 Masters is still hailed as one of the most pivotal moments in golf history. This was when the world truly sat up and took notice of the young prodigy, as he clinched his first major title with an awe-inspiring 12-shot lead. Even before this remarkable feat at Augusta National, Woods had already carved out a name for himself in the realm of golf. But it was this major championship, his first as a professional, that cemented his status as a future superstar.
The 21-year-old Woods dominated the tournament from the second round, amassing an intimidating nine-shot lead over Constantino Rocca by the end of the third round. Even though he had a momentary stumble during the final round, standing at one over par, Woods rallied to extend his lead to 12 shots, ultimately donning his first green jacket.
Flash forward to two decades later, the 2018 Players Championship saw Webb Simpson in a strikingly similar situation. Simpson, who had been experiencing a four-year dry spell on the PGA Tour, found himself leading by seven with just 18 holes left at TPC Sawgrass.
In a recent episode of The Smylie Show, Simpson revealed that he finally grasped the wisdom of Earl Woods’ advice to his son Tiger during the 1997 Masters. Earl Woods had cautioned Tiger that despite his substantial lead, the final round would be his “longest, hardest round”. At the time, Simpson confessed, he didn’t understand what Earl Woods meant. But as he held onto his lead at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, the truth of Earl Woods’ words dawned on him.
Simpson recounted his experience, revealing that while he had a five-shot lead after two days, extending to a seven-shot lead by Sunday, it turned out to be the most challenging round of golf he had ever played. He noted that the huge lead is a double-edged sword; it puts you in a position where you can only lose, as victory is already expected.
Simpson vividly remembered how several players, including Tiger, were hot on his heels, making impressive runs early on. Despite the pressure, he managed to keep his cool, starting out with par and weathering the storm through the middle part of the round.
The climax of the 2018 Players Championship saw Simpson grappling with how to navigate his final round. He scored a one over par round, emerging victorious by four over competitors such as Xander Schauffele, Jimmy Walker, and Charl Schwartzel. Despite being the only player in the top 40 who failed to break par in the final round, Simpson was satisfied. He had done what was necessary to cross the finish line, irrespective of how it appeared on the outside.
In retrospect, both Woods’ 1997 Masters victory and Simpson’s 2018 Players Championship win underscore the unique challenges that come with maintaining a significant lead in golf. While the lead offers a certain level of comfort, it also brings with it significant pressure and expectations. And as both Woods and Simpson discovered, navigating this complex landscape of emotions and strategies can truly make for the “longest, hardest round” of one’s career.
