I got a picture made with Tiger up in the Champions Locker Room after he won. The next year [1998] I picked out Tiger's wine for the Champions Dinner: a white Burgundy, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, 1995 vintage in honor of Tiger's first visit to Augusta National, and a red Cháteau Mouton Rothschild, 1975 vintage in honor of his birth. We were pround of what he had done.
Arthur Williams (maitre d' at Augusta National for 13 years; 20 years at the club): I said a couple of words to his dad when he arrived at the course on Sunday, but to be truthful, we were so busy trying to get ready for dinner that night we weren't too aware of what was going on out there. Except we knew Tiger was winning. I remember everyone was already seated when Tiger came in. I spoke to his mother. What struck me was how young he was and how excited Mr. Carpenter was for him.
Tiger Woods: Jack Stephens was there presiding over the dinner. He taps his glass and says, "OK, we have Tiger Woods here. We need him to talk about his experiences." All of a sudden, it hit me. Then it was pretty neat: The entire cooking staff came out to listen. All my friends and family were there celebrating. I was just trying to keep it all together.
Phil Knight (Nike founder): I've been to sporting events all over the world, and this might have been the most emotional one. I went over to his house two or three times that week. I was so nervous I couldn't eat, and he was playing video games with Jerry Chang. Except on the final night, the emotion finally hit him.
EPILOGUE
After the dinner at Augusta National, the celebration continued with numerous toasts back
at the Woods family's rental home.
Tiger Woods: I went back to the house and had a few adult beverages. I ended up falling asleep, holding the jacket, cuddling it like it was a little bear. I woke up in the morning, still holding it, and said, "Huh, I did win it." . . . And boy, my head hurt.
Additional reporting by Jaime Diaz, John Huggan, Peter Morrice, Mark Soltau, Bob Verdi and Ron Whitten.
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