GWD_MAY_16

WELCOME
BACK,
MR WOOD
Chris Wood waited six years for the postman to deliver a second Masters invite
through his letterbox. The Bristolian tells John Huggan what he learned from his
debut in 2010 and what it means to play his way back into golf’s most exclusive field.
2016
Chris Wood stands out on
any golf course. Not because
of anything controversial –
the 28-year old is one of the
most mild-mannered
members of the European Tour – but
because of his height. At 6’ 6”, the twotime
tour winner is a big lad. Of his fellow
pros, only Robert Karlsson and Thomas
Pieters can look him directly in the eye.
This year though, Wood is looking to
scale some golfing heights of his own. For
the first time since his debut in 2010, he’s
heading to Augusta National for the
Masters. Last time ended in a missed cut,
but some great memories. This time, his
goal is to play four good rounds. Now
established in the world’s top 50, Wood
is a man on the rise and well capable of
being a big part of the Masters television
coverage he has watched avidly over the
last five years. Looking back – and
forward – Wood sat down to discuss all
things Augusta.
You’re heading back to Augusta next
month. What are your memories of 2010?
I remember never having been as nervous
in my life. I ripped my first tee shot down
the middle, then hit a 9-iron to six inches.
I walked off thinking, ‘This Masters
business is fun. What’s the fuss about?’
I soon found out. I hit an okay drive
off the second tee, but I pulled it a touch
and it clipped the tree. The ball fell to the
left, maybe 20 yards into the trees. I tried
to punch a low 4-iron back to the fairway,
but didn’t make it. I hit a tree, finished in a
hazard and made eight. Tournament over.
Since then, I’ve watched the Masters
every year on TV. I’ve sat there with my
yardage book.
I love listening to Jack Nicklaus. He
knows the course like nobody else. Last
year, he mentioned the six key shots you
need to play well at Augusta – and one of
them was the tee-shot at the second. I’ve
learned so much about the course by not
being there!
A couple of years ago, Billy Foster –
who caddies for Lee Westwood – was
injured and they had him in the studio
during the Masters. He was talking about
his course planner. He had red dots
showing the grain of the grass on every
green. So I’ve got the same on my yardage
book. I’ve used my time away from
Augusta productively. I knew I’d be back.
How did you deal with all the stuff that
comes with being at the Masters?
Looking back, I was so inexperienced and
still quite young. I know Jordan Spieth
won there last year at 21 but that’s not the
norm. I shot 78-76 and missed the cut
comfortably. My Masters was over in a
flash. I didn’t really feel like I took it all in
very well. But I’m a different player now.
Did you have an opportunity to play the
course before the event?
I went to Augusta two weeks before the
Tournament with Lee Westwood. We
played two rounds. Dave McNeilly was
on my bag at the time and he’s been there
a million times. We had the course pretty
much to ourselves, but I didn’t use that
time to prepare properly. I went through
the motions, but the Masters is not like an
Open. I know the Open courses and I’m
comfortable on a links. Everyone says you
really need to know Augusta to play it
well. But you also need to feel
comfortable. I never really managed that.
What would be a good performance for
you this year?
I’m not sure how high you have to finish
to get back next year. But that’s a good
target, I think. I’m about 40th in the
world at the moment, but I need to keep
progressing. The only way I can do that is
by playing in the biggest events. So getting
back to Augusta is a big priority. It would
be nice to leave at the end of the week
knowing I’ll be back in 2017. If for no
other reason than it’s such a special place.
I was talking to Matt Fitzpatrick
recently. He was the same as me in feeling
relief that he had broken into the world’s
top 50 at just the right time. We don’t
have the burden of people asking what we
need to do to get into the Masters. We’re
May 2016 Golf World 65