‘Selfish’: Day stumped by Woods’ decision to drive but sympathises with struggles

His 24 consecutive cuts made from 1997 to 2024 – he missed several to injury – remains a Masters record. As Masters week officially teed off on Monday with practice rounds at Augusta, Australian Jason Day was among the many golf stars in the 93-player field who have been asked about 50-year-old Woods.

“In regards to Tiger, it just shows the human element and the human side of someone that is struggling with some sort of an addiction,” Day said on Monday afternoon, local time.

“He’s not immune to it just because he can hit a golf ball really well. He’s had [an estimate of] 25 to 30 something surgeries, and when you’re going through that many procedures, it’s painful coming out of those procedures. I’ve had procedures done, and I typically try and stay away from all that stuff because I just know that – painkillers, there can potentially be a downfall to it.

“It’s unfortunate; the only thing that I don’t understand is that it’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way, as well. But when you’re the player that he was and how strong-willed he is, he thinks he can do almost anything, and that’s probably why he’s probably driving and a little bit under the influence.”

Day, a fellow former world No.1, credits Woods’ stratospheric influence over golf in the 1990s and 2000s for him taking up the game as a child growing up in Beaudesert, Queensland. Day taught himself the swing the club using Woods’ How I Play instruction book.

Once Day cracked the PGA Tour in 2008, he befriended Woods and sought regular advice en route to winning his own major title – the 2015 PGA Championship – and 12 other PGA Tour victories.

Now 38, Day said it was difficult to watch the news unfold and noted how Masters competitors missed the winner of the 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019 editions.

“He was my hero growing up,” Day said. “The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger. It’s hard to see him go through what he’s going through, and especially under the microscope – it must be hard to be who he is and have everything, everyone look on, kind of down on him.

“Some people want him to fail. Some people obviously want him to succeed. It’s really difficult for me to go through that and watch him, and I know that he’s getting the help now, which is good. I’m just hoping he comes out on the other side and is better because golf misses him. We miss him here this week.”

Other Masters champions said 82-time PGA Tour winner Woods was on their minds at Augusta National. Two-time green jacket winner Bubba Watson organised other past Masters winners to stand around the 18th green to congratulate Woods in 2019.

“I told him from day one that we started hanging out back in [2006 or 2007], somewhere in there, that I’m pulling for him as a human being,” Watson said on Monday.

“I could care less about his golf; anybody that’s struggling with anything, I feel for him because I’ve [gone] through a lot of mental stuff. So yeah, I always pull for him… Nothing but love for him, and hopefully, he can come back stronger.”

Phil Mickelson, who won the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters, is also absent from the 90th edition this week. The left-hander, who plays on LIV Golf, announced last week he would be out for an extended period as his family deals with “a personal health matter”.

There hasn’t been a Masters since 1994 that didn’t feature both Mickelson and Woods.

“Let’s be honest, without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the events, in golf, when they both step away, honestly I feel it hurts the game of golf,” said 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed. “But at the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go.”

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