Tiger Woods is easily one of the biggest names in the game of golf. Even though Woods has not made it to Rome this year, the roars of the 15-time major champion’s name can be heard all around the Marco Simone Golf Course.

The reason behind his absence, of course, is a hiatus due to his prevalent health issues. While the news of golf legend’s break clubbed with the match play’s of the Ryder Cup is on the rise, one can’t help but think back on the major beef that occurred between him and Stephen Ames during their own match play!

What went down between Tiger Woods and Stephen Ames?

Woods has had a career full of ups and downs, within which he’s seen plenty of controversy and achievements. The two together, however, coincide at one spot: his face-off with Stephen Ames at the 2006 Match Play.

That year, Woods was on a roll and had already won two events; however, what fueled him to beat Ames wasn’t just the yearning for a third, but also Ame’s words! Ahead of the event, Ames made the mistake of trash-talking the legend. He referred to one of Woods’ wayward shots from an event earlier that year and before the match proclaimed, “Anything can happen. Especially where he’s hitting it.”

In fact, he had trash talked him multiple times before, with arguably the harshest coming in 2000, when, in regards to Woods’ insane dominating run, he said, “He’s a spoiled 24-year-old. If I was in his position, I’d be more considerate. If I was beating the spit out of [other players], I wouldn’t have to beat them in that way too.”

Fueled by all these taunts about him, the golf legend reminded Ames why you don’t stay in the jungle and pick a fight with the tiger. He trashed his taunter 9&8 in the match-play, with Ames not winning a single hole!

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As Woods’s ongoing hiatus prolongs, recalling instances like these helps us keep the 82-time PGA Tour champion in mind. However, with the Ryder Cup in motion, he already is as he assumes his new role for the international face-off this year!

Woods’ ongoing hiatus and the Ryder Cup

Thanks to his ongoing professional hiatus, Tiger Woods has assumed the role of being the moral supporter of the 2023 US Ryder Cup team. Golf fans from around the world are calling out to the 15-time major winner in symphony, as Team America has been suffering to make a name for itself in the first two days of the Ryder Cup.

Even Team USA’s captain, Zach Johnson, has made Woods’ important role in supporting and guiding the members clear in his pre-Ryder Cup interviews. The golf legend is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in golf; even in his absence, his fans never seem to forget him. This has been made clearer through this year’s Ryder Cup; wouldn’t you agree? Let us know in the comments below.

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