European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 6, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and stripes Friday april 6200 sports to Donovan expected to sign Lon term Extension after deciding to stay at Florida Page 33 watershed mome Woods 1997 masters Romp was indicator of his future on pea tour by Doug Ferguson the associated press t Wjk a Augusta a in years ago before he was a global icon Tiger Woods still was some what of a mystery in the masters it was his first major As a professional he had played six majors As an Amateur never finish ing in the top 20 Only five rounds under Par and while he already had won three of his 14 starts on the pea tour since turning pro most of the hype had been driven by Jack Nicklaus audacious pre diction that Woods might win As Many Green jackets 10 As Nicklaus and Palmer combined All the fuss had been there eve said this Guy was so Good Thomas Bjorn said but players out Here weve All heard it Here comes a new great one after Augusta everyone realized theres something special Here this was a different class Woods set 20 records that week from youngest masters Champion 21 to 72hole score 270 to largest Victory margin 12 his Victory was a watershed moment in Golf Here is a reconstruction of that week in the words of 11 people had Contact with him that week including an interview with Woods the others were playing partners Nick Faldo Paul Azinger and Colin Montgomerie Caddie Mike Cowan swing coach Butch Harmon executive producer Lance Barrow and analyst Tavid Leherty Isleworth neigh Bor Mark Omeara and pea tour commissioner Tim Finchem the week before after win Ning the season opener at la Costa in a playoff Woods Spring been relatively Ordinary in the event before the masters he tied for 31st in his debut in the players championship finishing 17 shots out of the Lead he spent the week before the masters practising and playing at Isleworth in Florida Omeara i had a Friend of mine who owns a japanese restau rant that i invited to play Tiger comes onto the Range and said you want to play Golf my Friend was pretty jacked up to come play with me at Isleworth the next thing you know Tiger is with us it Dave in this 1997 photo Tiger Woods receives his Green jacket for winning the masters from 1996 Champion Nick Faido rear at the Augusta National Golf club in Augusta a Woods set 20 records on the Way to a 270 score and a 12stroke Victory signalling the Dawn of an Era on the pea tour the Tiger effect professional Golf like Lascar and major league baseball has a disturbingly Low percentage of Black players three factors cited As contributing to the Low numbers Are As follows Access according to a study by the National Urban league Blacks Are poorer than Whites making it harder to gain Access to Golf courses driving ranges and professional instruction interest its impossible to know How Many Back children have become interested in Golf since tigers 1997 masters Triumph but a hams poll last summer indicated Woods is americas most popular athlete that cant Hurt Money an accomplished Amateur golfer needs financial backing to turn pro a year according to nationwide tour golfer Tim Oneal that Likely Means the tour will have to help sponsors for promising Black golfers if or when the expected growth begins associated press getting under Way Chris honorary starter Arnold Palmer hits the ceremonial first tee shot before the Start of the masters in Augusta a thursday Palmer won the masters four times in his career was the easiest 59 you could Ever see anyone shoot he should have shot 56 wednesday april 8 whatever Good vibes Woods had about his game were gone by the time he got to Augusta National for his practice rounds what concerned him most was his putting Woods i was still hitting it Good but i  shake it in i Felt uneasy with my stroke for some reason it just left me on the flight from Orlando to Augusta i worked on it for hours and  find it my Speed was Good but i could never Start the Ball on line not consistently finally i had enough and i went to my dad i said dad cant figure this out he had a look at it told me a couple of things i needed to do and All of a sudden i started feeling a Little More comfortable thursday april 9 the tradition at Augusta National is to pair the defending Champion with the us Amateur Champion even though Woods turned pro after winning the Amateur he still played the opening round with Faldo see 1997 on Page 39 i 027664 463149