Harold Varner III has revealed that Tiger Woods sent a message to his dying friend just before he won the 2019 Masters.
Initially, Varner III had been asked what he recalls of Woods’ 1997 Masters win, to which the American responded: “Great question. It's 25 years. I remember nothing. I wasn't watching it. I was 6 years old. You know, I just wasn't watching at the time.” However, even though the 31-year-old has no recollection of Woods’ first ever Masters victory, he’s unlikely to forget his last Augusta National win – and not just because of what happened on the course.
“I tell everyone the most important one that I've ever seen that I watched and I didn't even watch all of it was 2019. Just because my best friend - he sent a note to my best friend the Wednesday before, and he was dying, and my really good friend basically said he was going to win on his birthday, and Sunday was his birthday, and, yeah, it was nuts. That's the most important one to me.”
Varner III went on to explain why he thinks Woods, who will play in The Masters as he returns from injury following a car accident, is the greatest of all time. He said: “Obviously, race plays a part of it, but at the end of the day he is one of the best players, and I've always thought that. I've always thought he was the best player ever.”
While 46-year-old Woods is a veteran of The Masters with five victories, 2022 marks the first time Varner III competes in the tournament. Varner III has never won a Major, but the World No.40 enters the tournament having made an encouraging start to 2022. He won February’s PIF Saudi International and finished tied for sixth in the unofficial fifth Major, The Players Championship, last month. Most recently, he finished tied for 18th at the WGC-Match Play.
VIDEO: THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT TIGER WOODS
-
Tiger Woods To Make PNC Championship Return Alongside Son CharlieThe 15-time Major winner is set to tee it up for the first time since back surgery in September, with Team Woods making their fifth appearance in the tournament
-
These Drivers Are Being Replaced In 2025 So Now Is The Best Time To Grab a DealNew drivers look to be on the way early in 2025 so now is a great time to pick up some notable discounts models that impressed us this year
-
Fresh Drone Images Show Progress Of Augusta National Clean-Up Operation Following Hurricane HelenePer photos via Eureka Earth on X, several holes at Augusta National appear very different to normal after damage to the course caused by Hurricane Helene
-
Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Confirms He Will Give Up Major Starts In Favor Of Immediate DP World Tour ChanceChina's Wenyi Ding confirmed he will be leaving college and giving up starts at The Masters and The Open Championship in favor of immediately starting his pro career
-
'A Lot Of Damage' To Augusta National But Masters Expected To Be Held As PlannedAugusta National chairman Fred Ridley says The Masters will be staged on time despite extensive damage to the course caused by Hurricane Helene
-
This Much-Loved Masters Feature Just Made Its Full LIV Golf DebutThe 'Any Shot, Any Time' feature officially launched on the LIV Golf app in Andalucia as Sergio Garcia claimed victory at Valderrama
-
Are Masters Champions Exempt For Life?Winning the Masters comes with a lifetime exemption to future tournaments
-
The Amateur Playing In His Seventh Major And Third Masters This WeekCareer amateur Stewart Hagestad has made it back to Augusta National after another US Mid-Am victory
-
Scheffler The New Tiger? Time For Woods To Say Goodbye? 10 Takeaways From The 2024 MastersWe highlight ten of the key stories to come from the 88th edition of the Masters
-
Tommy Fleetwood Banks Huge Sum For Local Augusta Caddie After Englishman's Best Masters ResultGray Moore is a former Augusta National caddie master who was helping Fleetwood out after his regular caddie Ian Finnis was forced to stay home
