Tiger Woods’ incredible career saw him surpass the imagination of millions of golf enthusiasts around the world. The 82X PGA Tour winner recorded unbelievable feats to earn himself the title of the greatest golfer of all time.
Very few golfers in history would have been able to compete with a prime Tiger Woods. What set him apart from everyone else was his drive for perfection. He turned golf into an art and often left his opponents perplexed due to his mind-blowing skills.
So it didn’t come as a surprise when the golf legend denied needing to divot hitting off the fairway. During an interview for TaylorMade Golf, Woods was questioned about a conversation he had with Scottie Scheffler on a video where he mentioned that he does not take divots. The clip transitioned to the conversation where the two were discussing the topic.
Scottie Scheffler questioned Woods if the latter doesn’t take divots. The golf legend simply replied. “Why do you need to take a divot?” When Scheffler clarified that he was actually asking Woods if he takes divots, the former world no. 1 replied, “I don’t take divots. It is what it is.” Going back to the interview, when Woods was asked to elaborate on the topic, he said, “Earlier in my career, I was very zeroed. I was wide and wide. I was wide in the back swing, wide in the front swing,” as he explained that he played the shots at an angle. Woods added, “It was actually hard for me to take a divot when I was hitting it really well, just because I was zeroed.”
Explaining how he continued the habit, “Urkel” said, “At that time, early 2000s, mid 2000s, even in late 90s, my natural shot was a draw. Obviously, with a draw you’re not going to be swinging that left, you’re not going to be that steep. So, I didn’t take a lot of divots.” Speaking about situations when Woods didn’t need to add a flight to the ball, he said, “It would have been totally different if I was hitting punch cuts. Then you’re going to see divots. But my natural shot was a draw.”
We HAD to get to the bottom of this “no divots” explanation once and for all. 👀 #TeamTaylorMade pic.twitter.com/TBkQ2JR4ac
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) November 2, 2023
More recently, Jon Rahm was questioned about Tiger Woods not hitting divots. During a challenge video on the Bob Does Sports YouTube channel, Jon Rahm was asked if he was shocked to learn that Woods doesn’t take any divots. Rahm straightaway replied, “No, I already knew.” When he was asked if Tiger Woods was lying about the same, the Spanish pro replied, “On the range. On the course, I’ve played with him when he takes big divots too depending on the shot.”
Rahm doesn’t clarify if Tiger Woods takes divots often. However, his agreement with the first question when he said that he “already knew” indicates that it’s true. Also, the “depending on the shot” aspect was also mentioned by Tiger Woods when he talked about taking punch cuts.
It’s astonishing to learn that Tiger Woods had such a perfect swing that he didn’t need to take any divots. This might not have been the most amazing aspect of his strokeplay, but it is certainly one of the most impressive. While we are discussing his strokeplay, let’s take a look at some of the best shots Tiger Woods has hit throughout his career.
Tiger Woods’s perfect strokes
When we talk about the best-ever stroke of Tiger Woods, there is only one shot that comes to mind. That incredible chip shot Woods hit on the 16th hole of the 2005 Masters Tournament. Stuck in the rough at a peculiar angle, Woods lofted the ball straight into the hole to continue his incredible run in the tournament. He ended up gathering the green jacket for the third time in his career.
While it was not a single stroke that led him to victory, every shot that came off Tiger Woods’s club in the 2000 U.S. Open was just as enthralling. So much so that the second-placed golfer on the leaderboard; Ernie Els had played 15 strokes more than Woods, a record in the majors. The breathtaking hole-in-one in the 59-stroke round at the 1997 Masters Tournament should also make the list.
Fans might not get to see the best of Tiger Woods again, but it’s always good to know that we can rewatch some of his most magnificent plays whenever we want. What do you think about the no-divot approach of Tiger Woods? Share your views in the comments section.
