Tiger Woods heard his longtime friend and business partner Rob McNamara say ’99 yards,’ and so the 15-time major winner immediately and instinctively pulled out a pitching wedge Tuesday night during TGL action. Woods even confirmed the number a second time with McNamara before setting up for his swing. He probably should have asked again.
Soon enough, his Jupiter Links Golf Club teammates wondered aloud from the sideline ‒ but too late and not loud enough for Woods to hear ‒ why one of the greatest golfers of all-time was using a club that wouldn’t get Woods near the 199 yards he needed to reach the hole.
What followed was a shot that traveled 100 yards, falling well short of the green as part of the match between Jupiter Links match and the New York Golf Club. Woods had been told ’99’ because it was perceived to be obvious the caddie was dropping a number and meant ‘199’ yards. Obvious to everyone but Woods, who wound up losing the 13th hole to Cameron Young.
‘I heard 99 yards. I didn’t know it was 199,’ he explained and then called it ‘one of the most embarrassing moments in my golfing career.’
Kim and fellow Jupiter Links teammate Kevin Kisner each got a good laugh at Woods’ expense as everybody involved realized the miscommunication that had occurred. Woods was playing for the first time since the death of his mother, Kultida Woods. The New York Golf Club team of Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick and Young wound up winning the match over Jupiter Links, 10-3, on Tuesday.
Asked what they learned from the match during a news conference afterwards, Kim and Kisner deferred to Woods and the mishap that overshadowed the result.
‘I had 99 yards. I hit a 100-yard wedge shot,’ Woods said with a sheepish smile and a chuckle. ‘That was one of the most embarrassing things … I can’t believe that just happened.’
It’s still unclear when Woods will make his 2025 PGA Tour debut after he withdrew from last week’s Genesis Invitational following his mother’s death. He is scheduled to play for Jupiter Links again on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.