Masters Champion: “If I went to heaven, I just want to play Augusta for the rest of my life”

Ian Woosnam reflects on Masters memories and more.

On the eve of the 33rd anniversary of his 1991 triumph, former World No.1 Ian Woosnam reflects on all things Augusta and what it takes to win the most coveted jacket in golf.

Tied on 11-under par with Jose-Maria Olazabal and Tom Watson after 71 holes, Ian Woosnam was just minutes away from understanding the significance of making a humble par.

Up ahead, Olazabal’s bunker shot failed to cling to the top shelf of the green, and playing partner Watson’s drive had found the trees on the right leaving a line only to that same dreaded patch of sand that put an end to Olazabal’s challenge.

Within seconds, the Welshman had become the odds-on favorite for Masters glory, and he hadn’t exactly spilt the fairway either. His drive into the practice ground on the left required some serious crowd management before he could even get back to the day job.

“It took forever to play the hole. I had to clear away the crowd that had been sat there since 8 o’clock in the morning. Eventually, we cleared them, but I came up a couple of yards short of the green with my approach.

“It was a simple little chip up the hill which would have been the proper shot if there was no pressure on, but I’m thinking it’s so easy to duff it. I might not have looked nervous, but I was very nervous, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, so I took the percentage shot by putting it.”

And while the not-so-simple lag putt failed to ever threaten the hole, or dustbin lid around it for that matter, the 7-footer coming back couldn’t have been any better for him, one ball outside the right, “just put a good stroke on it,” as he recalls.

The ball dropped, as did Woosie, securing a new Green Jacket with a less-than-spectacular four.

But spectacular golf and the birdie bonanzas we’ve become accustomed to watching week in, week out on the PGA Tour don’t necessarily make for the most captivating viewing. We only need to look at the dwindling TV audiences at flagship PGA Tour events to see that something is missing, despite what Commissioner Jay Monahan might spin.

“I don’t want to watch golf courses set up to do that all the time. It just becomes a putting competition. It’s what the TV want, what the fans want, but to me, it’s more exciting when the course is challenging, like Augusta or an Open Championship.”

Jeopardy is gold dust in golf and the game has undeniably been starved of it in recent years with head-to-head battles between the best becoming a rarity thanks to the fractured two-tour state of play.

Even on the PGA Tour, the imperious tee-to-green performance of Scottie Scheffler has meant the only real jeopardy is seeing what putter he has in the bag and whether it will be hot.

“These guys can all play so well, especially if they get their putting going. You would think McIlroy would be in the mix, but he’s just inconsistent at the moment. Rory should be perfect for Augusta, but he doesn’t seem to be doing it, resigns Woosie.

“Spieth has such a great short game and he’s the sort of guy that can come straight through and win. It’s so difficult to pick a winner, and you need to factor in the LIV guys too. It will be interesting to see how they perform.”

As the game prepares to reunite for the first time in a while, few will be hoping for a run-away leader as we’ve seen in the last two Augusta editions with comfortable victories for Scheffler and Rahm.

Woosie will hop up to Augusta from the sun-kissed shores of Barbados that he now calls home, to dine on the Basque-inspired menu of defending champion Jon Rahm.

And while he won’t be teeing it up this year, the World Golf Hall of Famer is just as excited, particularly about the wine he tells me.

“Coming out of the winter and driving down Magnolia Lane and all of a sudden you see this beautiful, manicured golf course and everything is absolutely perfect. It’s always been one of the most exciting tournaments in the world for me, and not just because I won it.

“If I went to heaven, I just want to play Augusta for the rest of my life…if it was a bit flatter or I could play in a buggy!”

In addition to his Masters triumph, Woosnam’s glittering career saw him amass 52 tournament victories worldwide, retain the World No.1 ranking for 50 consecutive weeks, and play in eight Ryder Cups.

Reflecting on the current state of play in today’s professional game, Woosie cuts a pretty dejected tone.

“Look at the way golf’s going now, it drives me crazy how much money they’re playing for. You’re not becoming the best player in the world anymore.  You’re becoming the best player on the PGA Tour or best player on the LIV Tour, I just don’t know where it’s going.”

Having recently watched the latest Netflix Full Swing 2 docuseries, I ask Woosie how turning pro today has changed from his experience at the height of his career three decades ago, and how he managed the mental pressures that came with being one of the best players in the world.

“Yeah, it’s a little different now. These guys go off to college and come through that way learning how to play under pressure. But obviously, when I was a youngster it was more like you turn pro early and you treat it like an apprenticeship really. You learn your trade and that’s exactly what happens to me. My dad said, give yourself five years, and it was about five years.

“Learning how to win is mental, you’ve got to be mentally very strong and you’ve got out the right attitude. If I hit a bad shot, I used to think here I am walking on a golf course, with beautiful green grass and flowers. Some people are in hospital dying. What am I worrying about? You’ve got to believe in what you’ve got and play one shot at a time. That’s why the greats are great.”

And Woosie sits firmly in that category, playing his part in the ‘Big 5’ alongside Ballesteros, Faldo, Langer, and Lyle to raise the profile of European golf in a period of dominance in the 80s and 90s.

A victorious Ryder Cup captain also, having led Team Europe to a landslide 18.5 – 9.5 win at The K Club in 2006, Woosie has added significant value to the game beyond his time at the top and continues to impart his wisdom to the benefit of others, most recently helping Bronte Law return to the winner’s circle on the Ladies European Tour.

“With Bronte, we spent a few weeks working on her swing as her confidence was way down. I just told her what I thought and she worked really hard on it, and it seems to have paid off. Sometimes it’s just saying the right words at the right time.”

Not one of my strong points mind, as I clumsily ask if he could go back and relive one round of golf what would it be and why, hoping for an unspoiled memory from Augusta that escaped prying TV lenses.

“Well (after a long pause), it would have to be Royal Lytham & St Annes when I had too many clubs in my bag. ‘If’ is a big word, but if I hadn’t had two drivers in the bag, I might have been a Masters champion and an Open champion.”

He’s not wrong, ‘if’ is a big word in sport, but winning multiple Majors ultimately relies on consistency and Woosie is the first to admit that his resume would likely have a few more be it not for streaky performances with the flat stick.

“If I could have a shot from another player I would have to go with Tiger’s putting stroke. I’ve had flashes, but I would love to have been a more consistent putter and I think I would have won me a lot more Majors.”

So, what shot of yours was the envy of the field I ask, keen to lift the mood again.

“Most probably a long 1-iron off the tee or into greens. They say Seve was a great 1-iron player, but I think I at least matched him. My long irons were fantastic.”

Tiger and Seve failed to make the cut for Woosie’s dream four-ball, however. That tee time was reserved for Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Ben Hogan with very little hesitation.

And on the subject of legends, Woosie reminds me of the Barbados Legends Tour event he is hosting at the Apes Hill Golf Resort in May which he is a proud ambassador for.

“It’s been 15 years or so since the seniors have played in the Caribbean. I actually played my first seniors when it was at Royal Westmorland and that was 16 years ago, so yeah, it’s been a long time coming and I’m very excited.”

Sitting 1,000 feet above sea level, overlooking the Scotland District, Apes Hill with its unique and diverse ecosystem, spectacular setting and Ron Kirby crafted Championship Course is something to behold – it’s a bucket list golfing get-away.

“There’s so much more to Barbados than you might think, said Woosie before we wrap up.

“Yes, there are beautiful sandy beaches, the climate is certainly agreeable most of the time, and for golfers, there are some wonderful courses with spectacular views. However, when you live there and you get to know the local people, they’re so friendly – that’s when you find out what the island is all about.”

Ticket information for the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam from May 3-5 can be found here.

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.