Tiger Woods’ Masters dinner stance as duo refuse to sit next to him | Golf | Sport

Tiger Woods’ standing as a five-time Masters champion has secured the golfing legend a unique position regarding the prestigious tournament dinners. The yearly custom typically takes place two days prior to the major commencing at the Augusta National Golf Club.

This year’s gathering marks the 90th edition of the historic occasion, with reigning champion Rory McIlroy assuming responsibility for hosting former winners. Accompanying the dinner are the complexities of the seating plan, which has garnered considerable interest throughout the years. Woods – who has announced his decision to step back from the spotlight following his car accident – has grown thoroughly familiar with proceedings given his five previous triumphs at Augusta during his illustrious career. In 2018, he discussed his inaugural attendance at the dinner, disclosing: « I just sat next to Freddie (Couples). »

While acknowledging there are no formal guidelines on seating positions, it’s evident there are specific zones where particular individuals will gather, confessing he has a designated space where only he sits. The 15-time major winner continued: « And certain people sit in certain parts of the room, and that’s the way it’s been since the 60s and before that. I have my spot. »

Nevertheless, that space will stay vacant this year, with Woods absent from the Masters altogether following his high-profile arrest. There are plenty of unwritten rules, with both Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth agreeing they would not sit near Woods and Jack Nicklaus, who are positioned in the same area at the dinner.

Addressing his reasoning during a press conference at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, world No. 1 Scheffler said: « Zach [Woods] and Jordan [Spieth] always sat next to each other, and I definitely didn’t ask Jordan to sit by him, because he would have done something to make sure that I didn’t have a place to sit.

« So I kind of looked at Zach, I was like, ‘Hey, where are you sitting this year?’ And he told me, and he was nice and let me join him. But I definitely wasn’t going to ask Jordan for that because he would have messed with me. » When quizzed about the existence of any protocol, the two-time Masters winner confirmed: « There’s a little protocol. Guys have, like, I would say, sections where they sit. But you move around a little bit.

« There are no necessarily assigned seats, but I’m definitely not going to sit in the area where Tiger and Jack sit. Like, there are kinds of spots where you feel you’ll naturally flow into. It’s always fun for me to get to see some of the champions that I don’t get to see regularly, so it’s always really fun just catching up with those guys, seeing what they’re like, kind of seeing what makes them tick, little stuff like that is always really fun. »

Spieth – who won the tournament in 2015 – also revealed the unofficial seating arrangement during the dinner, explaining: « It’s kind of like 6th, 7th grade. If the teacher they have assigned seats you get all bummed, and if they let you sit wherever you want you end up sitting in the same spot anyways.

« It’s kind of the same deal. Sit with Scottie, but then when Scottie wins, you know, he’s done that twice in the last three or four or so, there’s a certain section on the far side from where we sit where you don’t sit, because it’s Jack and Tiger. And that’s where Arnie [Palmer] was. »

Woods’ decision to take a break from golf followed his arrest and charge of driving under the influence earlier this week after striking a kerb and overturning his vehicle. Speaking about the incident which he pleaded not guilty to for the first time on X, the golfing legend wrote: « I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.

« I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my wellbeing and work toward lasting recovery. »