WHEN Tiger Woods became a professional golfer midway through 1996 he famously said "Hello world!"
Nine months later, Woods, 21, smashed The Masters' record books in his first Major as an amateur. Jim Nantz, a celebrated CBS broadcaster, described it as "a win of the ages".
In 1997, Tiger Woods was the king of golf.
Woods was also the youngest ever Green Jacket-wearing player, setting new records in the tournament's largest winning margin and lowest score.
He was astonished to finish at 18 under par.
The world of golf will never be the same.
Earl, Earl's father, ran out to find his son after he had left the celebration party at his rental home in the early hours of that evening. He found him lying on his back, hugging his Green Jacket, and was able to get him out of bed.
Woods won two of his five first pro starts, and then added a third at 1997's Mercedes Championship. But no one could have foreseen the incredible display at Augusta.
He was a well-known golfer even before he entered the paid ranks. At the tender age of two, he participated in a putting contest with Bob Hope.
Woods was called the most exciting young talent since Jack Nicklaus, as he won unprecedented three US Junior titles. He also won a hat-trick US Amateur Championships.
He had also missed the cut as an amateur at 1996 Masters, when Greg Norman lost a five-shot lead to Nick Faldo.
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In 1997, he was still co-favourite alongside Faldo at 8-1. However, those odds proved to be a bit generous when Woods made his first drive through the trees and scored the first of four bogeys in the front nine.
He made the turn in 40 without any birdies and it appeared that his challenge was over.
Woods suddenly became a star. Woods made four birdies on the back nine and an eagle, and took only 30 shots. He was also one of seven players who broke par in the first round.
Faldo shot a 75 alongside him. He said, "Tiger came in with so much attention on him that no other player has ever walked to the first Tee with eight policemen surrounding him."
Tiger decided that he needed security. Everyone wanted a piece. He had a completely different aura. He reacted to all the hype with incredible style, even though it seemed like he might let all the attention get to him.
He went out in 40, and returned in 30. We didn't see him again for many years. We were left in the dust.
He was hitting wedges and nine-irons into greens, where most players were only taking three woods. We had no chance.
Woods shot 66 on the following day to take a three-shot lead. He won the top spot with an Eagle at 13 and Birdies at 14 and 15.
Nantz was right to decide that the eagle could be the beginning of something special. He told almost 50 million US viewers that Tiger took the lead at The Masters for the first time on Friday, April 11th.
Scot Colin Montgomerie was Woods' closest competitor heading into the weekend.
To play his way into Saturday’s final group, he shot a second-round score of 67 and was optimistic about his chances at winning his first Major.
Montgomerie stated that there is more to golf than just hitting the ball long distances and that the pressure is mounting on him.
"I have a lot more experience at Major championships than he does. I hope that I can prove it."
Montgomerie was not able to make it work as he had hoped. Woods played great golf with a 65-foot par. Monty shot 74, and suddenly his playing partner was nine ahead of the field.
Costantino Rocca, the genial Italian who would defeat him later in the Ryder Cup singles that year, was his closest pursuer.
After that kind of spanking, Montgomerie usually hides. He admitted that he was wrong about Tiger this time.
He stated, "I saw something very special that no one else has yet seen."
"I believed I could beat him. I was wrong. It was a special round, and it is impossible for Tiger to lose this tournament.
Monty was reminded that there had been an 11-shot swing with Norman and Faldo 12 months prior. He replied, "This is different, it is very different." For starters, Faldo is not lying second. Greg Norman is not Tiger Woods."
He was not. Woods arrived at the final round in his blood red top, black trousers and a three under 69. He was greeted with a massive fist pump that carried the entire weight of his body.
Earl hugged his son on 18th, and the moment was repeated when Woods hugged his own son Charlie after he won his fifth Masters and 15th Major title in 2019.
Bill Clinton was one of the first to call Woods and offer congratulations. He took it all in stride too, the young American. Woods said: "The President was proud of how I played.
"He also stated -- and this meant so much -- that the best shot he had seen all week was the one of me hugging my father."
Woods, who has been through countless surgeries, including four back surgeries, and was also killed in a car accident last year, is still Augusta's most prominent man twenty-five years later.
What could he have in store this week for us?
Bill Clinton was full praise for Tiger
Tiger lifts his first Masters trophy
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