Capelle On Golf

2008 Masters Coverage - thru 4/15

Tiger Woods is often at his best at interviews prior to the start of a tournament. Below are some highlights from his talk with Rob Johnson of the 2008 Masters Media Committee. I’ve also put in my 3 cents (got to account for inflation) following some of Tiger’s answers. For the complete interview, please see ASAP.

On making birdies at the new Augusta National:

You know, you used to say that par was 68 for the longer hitters. I remember roaming around here and hitting good drives off the par 5s and good irons to every green; that’s no longer the case.

Capelle – He has to hit the driver more often than he’d probably like to given his inconsistent performance with it througout most of his career.

On shutting out expectations

No, it actually doesn’t, because I play for myself and my family. That’s it. That’s what my father’s always said to me and that’s what I’ve always done.

Capelle –No worries about other’s expectations is a big plus. It is expectations that ruin so many other would be champions.

On driving and putting:

You have to putt well here. You can’t putt poorly here and win. It’s playing a lot more different and a lot more penal off the tee but the greens are still the same. The greens are still just as penal.

Capelle – Putting was his downfall the last two years on Masters Sunday. It’s always a question mark, even for Woods.

On the value of experience:

But I got lucky and played a lot of practice rounds with some past champions and the knowledge they shared with me was invaluable.

Capelle – See my post.

Par 3 Tournament:
Used to be, I thought was a lot of fun to play, but now it is a little bit distracting to get ready and be ready for the tournament.

On cameramen clicking too soon:

It happens and that’s just the way it is. The game is growing. It’s gotten bigger and these are things that you just have to deal with, and it’s going to happen. You’ve got to deal with it the best you can.

Capelle – He sure seems a lot more philosophical about it now than he was at Doral.

On the impact of the rough:

Well, I think it helps on tee shots, there’s no doubt because it does slow the ball from going into the trees. But second shots, it does hurt you, because it’s hard to control your distances on a golf course in which you have to be so precise, and if you’re not with your distances, you’re going to pay a pretty good price. So, yes, it does help you off the tee, but certainly hinders you quite a bit going into the greens.

Capelle – Augusta National is longer and narrower, making it a tougher driving course, but there is an element of forgiveness thanks to the rough. As for the second shots, if a ball would have stopped short of the trees, then certain second shot are tougher. If the rough keeps a ball from going into the trees, then a shot from the rough has got to be easier than one from the trees.

On the fine line between winning and losing:

It really is hard to quantify that to people. Even as knowledgeable as Hank is, he’s seen me play umpteen holes; even he can’t always pick it up. Steve is the only one, you ask all of the players and the caddies, they are the only ones who really understand the difference between winning and losing, how fine that is.

Capelle – This isn’t rocket science. A gust of wind, a lip out, a tree branch that does or doesn’t get in the way, the click of a photographer’s camera. The little things that happen throughout the course of 72 holes of play that make a difference are no big mystery. We may not see them all up close like Steve, but we know they take place.

On how Jack Nicklaus said he felt deflated when he didn’t win the Masters:

Yeah, you feel deflated because you lost, but the very next day, you’re fired up about the U.S. Open. I’ve talked to him about that, and it’s been blown out of proportion just a touch, about that. Because are you frustrated that you lost; of course, you don’t ever want to lose. I don’t understand how you can like losing. But you know, once this tournament is over, you start refocusing and getting your game ready for the next major, no one has been better at that than Jack in his career, 19 seconds and 18 wins, how good is that.

Capelle – Woods thinks Nicklaus’ 19 seconds count for something!