Mark O’Meara’s 1998 season is remembered as one of the best in his career, highlighted by his first major victory at the Masters followed by a win at the British Open. However, a memorable and humorous moment occurred during his time with Tiger Woods. O’Meara shared a funny incident from the Masters, where he struggled to get his arm into the green jacket during the winning ceremony. Woods, standing behind him, had the jacket too high, making it difficult for O’Meara to get his arm through. After trying and failing to adjust it, O’Meara asked Woods to lower the jacket. Woods, in turn, awkwardly admitted that he had never put a sport coat on anyone before, which led to some laughter.
This moment was also recounted by O’Meara in a 2023 interview with GOLF.com, where he reflected on the experience with humor. Woods responded with a playful remark, admitting his lack of knowledge about how to assist with the jacket, adding that he had never done it before, which O’Meara playfully attributed to Woods’ tendency for practical jokes.
O’Meara and Woods have shared a close friendship, which began when Woods moved next door to O’Meara in Orlando, leading to O’Meara taking on a mentor role. The two frequently practiced together and competed in the 1999 World Cup, where they triumphed as a team. O’Meara went on to win 34 tournaments and was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in 2015, retiring in 2024.
The Masters green jacket ceremony also became a site for another awkward moment in 2016, when Jordan Spieth, the defending champion, faced heartbreak after losing a commanding five-shot lead during the final round. He faltered on the back nine, including a quadruple bogey at the 12th hole, which allowed Danny Willett to claim the title. Spieth, visibly upset, was asked to present the jacket to Willett, a moment that felt especially difficult for him, as he had to do it twice—once in the Butler Cabin and then again on the course in front of the crowd.
These green jacket ceremonies, while a symbol of victory, often bring intense pressure, as demonstrated by both O’Meara’s and Spieth’s experiences. For O’Meara, it was a memorable moment of camaraderie and humor with Woods, while for Spieth, it marked a painful loss and a challenging moment of sportsmanship. These instances remind us of the human side of professional golf, where the pressure and emotions can run deep, even in moments of victory and defeat.