Tiger Woods won The Masters in a dominating, record-
setting performance, becoming the first African American to
win a professional major golf championship. The media this
morning focuses on the 21-year-old's historical achievement
and its effect on sports and society. Among a sampling:
COMING UP BIG: In Charlotte, Ron Green called it "the
most significant victory anywhere in golf since Arnold
Palmer won the 1958 Masters and embarked on a career that
popularized golf outside the country clubs" (CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER, 4/14). In Chicago, Ed Sherman: "It was a day that
could go down as one of the most significant in sports
history. ... Woods transcends sports" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
4/14). In Chicago, Jay Mariotti: "More than a golf miracle,
Woods' conquest represents the shattering of a barrier"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/14). In Cincinnati, Paul Daughtery:
"There has never been another Masters like this one. And
there never will be" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/14). In
Detroit, Charlie Vincent: "Golf has a new champion, a young
man who arrived on his own schedule, bringing with him both
the dreams of those who were once disenfranchised by the
sport and the wonder of those who comprehend the
magnificence of the way he plays the game" (DETROIT FREE
PRESS, 4/14). In DC, David Montgomery writes that Woods has
"captured the imagination of such a broad spectrum because
he combined so many themes in one soft-spoken, gracious
package" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/14). Also in DC, Woods was
profiled in an extensive feature on the front-page of
Sunday's POST by Leonard Shapiro, under the header, "Tiger's
Troop: Like Palmer and Nicklaus, Woods Plays To Masses At
Augusta" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/13). ESPN's Mike Tirico called
Woods' performance "classy" (ESPNET SportsZone, 4/14).
ESPN's Jimmy Roberts, on Woods' victory: "It wasn't only
about race, it wasn't only about youth, it wasn't only about
power. The human tidal wave that crashed around Woods this
week came in all colors, in all ages, sizes and strengths"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 4/13). In Houston, Ed Fowler: "Woods
matched his grace among the hills and greens away from the
course. For one, he acknowledged the demands of his fame,
of which he had previously complained" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
4/14). In Miami, Edwin Pope: "What [Woods] did Sunday was
reshape the game by delivering it to the whole planet rather
than just the relatively privileged" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/14).
In Milwaukee, Michael Bauman: "Woods has changed the game of
golf for all time" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/14). In N.Y., Larry
Dorman: "He shattered myths and ... again altered the face
of the game" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/14). In N.Y., George Willis:
"They cheered and they applauded. White, black, Asian.
Young and old" (N.Y. POST, 4/14). Header of Dave Anderson's
column in today's N.Y. TIMES: "Tiger Woods, Golf's Future,
Rewrites History At Masters" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/14). In
Philadelphia, Bill Lyon: "This is a moment for the ages"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/14). Also in Philadelphia, Rich
Hofmann: "What he did here will reverberate outside the
sporting realm. Because what he did here was as charismatic
as it was unprecedented" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/14).
In S.F., C.W. Nevius: "This is the end of golf as we know
it" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/14). USA TODAY editorial: "History-
making isn't easy. But in golf -- as in all of life -- the
changeover is thrilling to witness" (USA TODAY, 4/14).
TIGER TALKS: Woods: "It was an amazing week for me"
(L.A. TIMES, 4/14). Speaking with ESPN's Jimmy Roberts,
Woods said of his win: "It's going to get a lot of kids in
this game. ... I think golf is going to possibly become a
cool sport to play, like basketball, baseball, football,
track. Those are core sports in America that we can all
play and we all enjoy because that's what everyone does
growing up. No one plays golf. And I think that if kids
can see that I'm doing it, maybe they might want to do it"
(ESPN, 4/13). More of Woods' interview with Roberts was
featured this morning on ABC's "Good Morning America" in
what was described as an ESPN/"GMA" exclusive (ABC, 4/14).
ONE MORE HONOR: Woods was named one of Time magazine's
25 "Most Influential Americans for 1997." Woods has
"electrified the sport of golf. He is, in the parlance of
the gallery, 'the Man'" (Andy Geller, N.Y. POST, 4/14).
