Just before he teed off at the 2023 Masters, Tiger Woods was reminiscing on one of the most famous shots in his career — and certainly one of the most famous ever at Augusta National: the 2005 chip into the hole on Sunday at No. 16.
Asked if he’s ever tried to recreate that shot, Woods scoffed that it’s not quite possible anymore.
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“The green has changed,” Woods told reporters. “There is a new back, deeper hole location there that they tried to fit. But my chip there in 2005 is not the same. The green is not the same as it was then.”
Sahith Theegala must not have heard those comments.
On Sunday, during his final round, the burgeoning fan favorite found himself just off the green on No. 16 and looking to chip in for birdie. The stakes weren’t quite as high as they were for Woods’, but Theegala recreated just about everything else about the epic shot.
Tiger-esque from @SRTheegala 🤌 pic.twitter.com/eOSUauIGE7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 9, 2023
Listen to those roars!”Oh my God, you should have seen how many people said, ‘Do it for Tiger’, ‘Tiger chip-in’, and all that stuff when I was over there.” Theegala said.
“I just wanted to get it anywhere on the green because I had kind of a muddy lie, and yeah, it was gross over there. But yes, I can’t wait to watch the replay because I don’t know what I did. I don’t even know the angle the ball took. I was just blacked out when I hit the chip because I was just so happy to get it on the green.”
Like many of the players in his generation, Theegala said Tiger’s chip in 2005 was his first Masters memory.
Augusta is pure magic.
Golf fans had some major Tiger flashbacks
— Alex Gam (@AlexGam2013) April 9, 2023
Sahith Theegala closed +550 at DraftKings Thursday for Top Debutant honors.
This shot at 16 gave him a three-shot cushion in that race over Tom Kim and Sam Bennett.
— Golfbet (@Golfbet) April 9, 2023
I hope @TigerWoods was watching @SRTheegala produce this moment of magic
Nostalgia of the highest order @TheMasters #TigerWoods #SahithTheegala pic.twitter.com/rwy85ihQyz
— Anand Datla (@SportASmile) April 9, 2023
Sahith Theegala!!!
We've seen this before… pic.twitter.com/5YSc2TPSqq
— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) April 9, 2023
Sahith Theegala! Chip in for birdie on 16. (Shades of Tiger’s iconic chip on 16 🐅 🐯) #TheMasters
— Linz_Hamilton (@Linz_Hamilton) April 9, 2023
Sahith Theegala 🤝 Tiger Woods
Chipping in for birdie at the 16th on Masters Sunday.
What a shot! pic.twitter.com/TvGfbQMLvx
— bet365 (@bet365) April 9, 2023
I could not be more in on Sahith Theegala. Dude just did The Tiger Chip on 16, or as close as you can do it since they changed the green. This is my favorite golfer now
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 9, 2023
That Sahith Theegala chip on 16 giving us some serious Tiger Woods flashbacks. #themasters
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) April 9, 2023
Tiger Woods watching like https://t.co/5CGA5b4YkW pic.twitter.com/vsLc8GsbqT
— betway (@betwayusa) April 9, 2023
