Tiger Woods Looks to Regain Top Form at the Masters

Tiger Woods, the 23-year-old golf phenomenon, is looking to regain his top form at the upcoming Masters golf championship. Despite being supplanted as the favorite by David Duval, Woods remains confident in his abilities, saying it's a "good motivation" to have Duval playing well. However, Woods acknowledges that he has not been able to make the shots at the right time and has been out-played by other golfers down the stretch.

Key Takeaways:

• Tiger Woods has won 11 tournaments and over $6 million in the past 18 months, but David Duval has surpassed him in recent victories and earnings.
• Woods won the 1997 Masters by a record 12-shot margin, scoring a record 18-under-par 270.
• Last year, Duval finished second in the Masters at 8 under, while Woods slipped to a tie for eighth, scoring 15 strokes higher than the previous year.
• Woods has made an impressive showing this year, winning the Buick Invitational and earning nearly $1.3 million to date.
• Woods ranks third on this year's PGA Tour behind Duval and Jeff Maggert.
• Having Duval as the favorite alleviates some pressure off Woods, allowing him to focus on his own game without the burden of being the top-ranked golfer.
• Woods acknowledges the frustration of losing his No. 1 standing, but understands it's part of the game and must focus on his own performance.

Statistics:

• 18-under-par 270: Woods' score in the 1997 Masters, a record at the time.
• 15 strokes: The difference in Woods' score between 1997 and 1998.
• 8 under: Duval's score in the 1999 Masters.
• $1.3 million: The amount Woods earned in two weeks of tournament play, including his win at the Buick Invitational.
• 11 tournaments: The number of victories won by Woods in the past 18 months.
• $6 million: The amount Woods earned in the past 18 months.

Sources:

• "Woods gets a boost from Duval's rise to top spot" by Byline: David Moffit UPI Sports Writer on April 6.