My Little Ritual: Keeping Up with Tiger at the Masters
Okay, let’s talk about tracking Tiger Woods’ scores during the Masters. It’s funny, whenever that time of year rolls around, I get this little itch. It’s not just about seeing the final number; it’s about the ride, you know? I remember one year specifically, I think it was after one of his comebacks, the anticipation was sky-high. Everyone was wondering, ‘Can he do it again?’
So, I decided I wanted to really follow along closely, not just catch highlights. My plan wasn’t super high-tech or anything. Forget fancy apps for a minute. I went a bit old school. First thing, I made sure I had the TV coverage locked in. Found the right channel, got comfy on the sofa. But just watching wasn’t quite enough.
I actually grabbed a simple spiral notebook and a pen. Yeah, really basic. My idea was to jot down his score hole-by-hole as it happened, or as close to real-time as I could get it. Seemed simple enough, right?
The Actual Process – More Involved Than You’d Think
So, the coverage starts. You hear the announcers, you see the shots. But getting that exact score right after a hole finishes? Sometimes it takes a moment. The broadcast might be showing another player, or they’re in commercial.
Here’s what my little system involved:
- Watching the screen like a hawk: Waiting for that graphic to pop up showing his score for the hole.
- Listening closely: Sometimes the announcers would mention it before it showed up visually.
- Quickly scribbling: As soon as I got the info – Hole number, his score (like par, birdie, bogey), and the running total.
- Cross-checking (sometimes): I’d occasionally pull up the official Masters website or a sports site on my phone or laptop, just to make sure my manual tally matched the ‘official’ online leaderboard. This was key because sometimes the TV graphic lagged a bit.
It sounds straightforward, but man, when things get exciting, or if Tiger’s having a bit of a rollercoaster round, you really have to pay attention. You miss one hole, and suddenly you’re playing catch-up, trying to figure out his current total score. Hitting refresh on a webpage became a very familiar action.
Why Bother Doing It Manually?
You might ask, why not just keep a website open? Well, there was something about the physical act of writing it down. It made me feel more engaged, more connected to his round. Instead of just passively watching, I was actively recording his journey through Augusta National for that day. It slowed things down in a good way.
Plus, let’s be honest, sometimes the online leaderboards can be glitchy or delayed too, especially during peak times. My little notebook felt like a reliable backup, my own personal record of his performance. There were definitely moments of frustration when the updates were slow, or the broadcast cut away at a crucial moment just before they showed the score. But that was part of the experience, I guess.
Honestly, it wasn’t about creating some complex statistical analysis. It was just about immersing myself in the moment, following one player’s journey through one of the most famous courses in the world. Seeing the string of pars, the excitement of a birdie, the groan of a bogey – writing it down made it feel more tangible. It’s a simple practice, but for me, it really enhanced watching the Masters when Tiger was playing.
