Seven years ago, at the Desert Classic, a nervous first reserve made the worst possible first impression on Tiger Woods, and the framed shirt hanging in his home tells the whole story.

Marcus Armitage wore a red Nike shirt to the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic for one reason. He wanted Tiger Woods to sign it. The English golfer, navigating his rookie European Tour season, was first reserve at Emirates Golf Club. He didn’t get into the tournament field. But Woods was there. That was enough.

On December 9, 2025, Armitage appeared on the Life on Tour podcast with George Harper Jr., presented by Buffalo Trace. He finally revealed the chaos.

“I threw my balls down. They went all over the. It hit him on the heels.” The scattered practice balls struck Tiger Woods directly. Multiple balls

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