Catching up with photographer Kohjiro Kinno, who snapped the iconic SI cover image of Tiger Woods winning the 2019 Masters.
Kohjiro Kinno didn’t wake up on Sunday morning of the 2019 Masters expecting to take a photo that would be splashed onto one of the boldest covers in Sports Illustrated's history. But sports, and sports photography, are unpredictable, and that's what transpired during a gray afternoon at Augusta National.. The image of Woods just after tapping in his winning putt at Augusta, after more than a decade of injuries, scandals and no major titles, told the story.
Sports Illustrated: What was your assignment at the start of that day, and how did you end up tracking Tiger on the 18th hole?My assignment was to cover the leader of the tournament. It was a close leaderboarrd that day, and the leader changed a few times throughout the round. I kept my eye on the leaderboards around the course and eventually stuck with Tiger on the back nine, and just stayed with him all the way to 18. There’s no losing Tiger out on the course.
That was my fifth Masters, so I knew I had to hurry up 18 to get to my spot. I was given the option of that photographer position and went with it. I settled in just as Tiger was finishing his second shot. It ended up short of the green, but I couldn’t really see that at the time because there were so many patrons blocking my view of his spot in the fairway. But I had a clear look at the green in front of me, so I waited for him.
SI: What about the moment itself. Tiger taps in and makes a visceral reaction that lasts for only an instant. How’d you capture it?I don’t remember too much of it. I just remember keeping my frame until he walked off the green. I was just waiting for any moment that told the story of the day.By the time he was off the green, I was trying my best Olympic-walking-marathon-runner impression up the hill on 18 green and onto the ceremony area.
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