“I bear in mind I walked to the locker room after profitable. I used to be preparing for the prize giving. I hear this bathroom flushing and the cubicle door opening. Tiger walks
out and is washing his face subsequent to me.
I stated to him, ‘Nicely performed, it was powerful on the market. I’m glad to be a significant winner.’ He stated again to me, ‘Yeah a little bit of luck.’ I turned again to him and stated, ‘It was greater than luck, mate. It was talent and expertise.’
We sort of simply laughed it off and parted methods. Nevertheless, after that, he turned up
on the prize giving and congratulated me. That was an incredible gesture as usually the man who completed second would by no means flip up on the winner’s circle.”
Golf Digest as soon as printed an article saying you had been one of the vital underwhelming US Open champions. Did that annoy you?
“It doesn’t hassle me what they suppose. I’ve the US Open trophy in my residence.
I’ll at all times be part of the US Open membership. That’s extra essential to me.
There’s solely been one thing like 280 winners of a significant championship. I don’t care what some man writes in Golf Digest.”
What impression did your victory have in New Zealand?
“It was large. After I received, I needed to go residence and share my success with my folks. I needed to encourage extra children to play golf in New Zealand the place rugby is the massive factor.
There was an enormous parade for me in Wellington. 150,000 folks turned up. The most important because the Beatles got here within the seventies.”
Was the eye you bought an excessive amount of?
“I’m a really shy man. I didn’t like residing within the fishbowl. I took benefit of
the eye by elevating cash for my charities.
I obtained distracted and my golf sport suffered. I wasn’t working towards or going to the fitness center. I felt like I had climbed Mount Everest.
My purpose was to win a significant and present folks Māori’s play golf. I am going residence now, and I see my group taking part in golf. I broke that mould.”
Do you may have any regrets?
“Sure and no. After all I’d like to be a multi main winner. However, look, I’m a US Open champion. I’ve had an excellent life.
I’ve met great folks via golf. Rock stars, film stars, presidents. It’s been an incredible rocket trip. Now I’m having fun with life in Spain and chilling out.”
While you retired in 2012, did you may have sufficient by that time?
I used to be going via some private issues with a divorce. I needed to see my children rising up.
After I was taking part in, I by no means noticed them. They suffered throughout that point. I wasn’t taking part in properly at that time both.
So it was a simple resolution. I actually loved my time away from golf for eight years.”
What’s it like taking part in on the Legends Tour?
“It’s nice. I’m taking part in a number of rounds of golf with mates I’ve recognized for 30 years.
It’s very sociable. I simply make sure that to get pleasure from it. That’s what my life is about now.
However I’m absolutely centered on my golf academy in Spain. I take nice delight out of instructing children concerning the sport. I at all times needed to offer again to golf.”
