After over four months in a hiding spot that Bin Laden would be proud of, Tiger Woods has finally returned to the PGA Tour with a fourth-place finish in the year’s first major at Augusta. Though the eventual winner, and Tiger’s main nemesis, Phil Mickelson left this generation’s greatest player in the dust on Sunday, Woods’ play in his first competitive tournament since October only strengthens the belief that normal service in Tigerland will resume quicker than first anticipated.
There is still much work to be done to restore golf’s most marketable image. Maybe it will never be completely repaired. The mind-boggling sex scandal that surfaced following his Thanksgiving night car crash brought Woods to a level of infamy nearly as unthinkable as his countless infidelities. But regardless of what we think of Tiger, his performance at The Masters confirms the guy can still play golf better than anyone else on the planet.
As Tiger’s tabloid drama unfolded deeper and deeper, the world’s number one golfer became the number one villain almost overnight: an identity Woods never dreamed he would have to fight. Suddenly, the question became not how Woods’ extra-curricular activities would affect his golf game, but rather would they cut short a career destined to be the greatest of all-time?
With 71 career victories, including 14 majors, Woods is knocking on the door of every significant record golf can provide. For nearly a decade, the thought of Tiger eventually reaching Sam Snead’s career mark for wins (82) and Jack Nicklaus’ record in majors (18) has been nothing short of a foregone conclusion. However, his latest transgressions have seemingly thrown a massive hazard in his path as many have questioned if he would come back and whether he would be the same player.
But anyone who has followed the illustrious career of this jaw-dropper of a golfing machine can believe with some confidence that not only will Tiger return as himself, he will be even more unbeatable. Fourth at The Masters is proof.
As one of sport’s all-time clutch athletes, Woods has developed an uncanny ability to block out any conceivable form of adversity on his way to winning. Whether it be overcoming the death of his father to win the 2006 Open Championship or hobbling to the 2008 U.S. Open title on a broken leg and torn ACL, Woods always seems to be at his best when he is surrounded by darkness.
In fact, it seems most athletes conjure up career performances when something has gone wrong in their personal lives (take Phil Mickelson for example). The adversity Tiger now faces is completely dishonorable, but it’s adversity nonetheless, and that will no doubt fuel him to become an even better golfer.
It’s true he’s never faced anything quite like this. But nothing is more “Tiger-esque” than going out and doing something no one thinks he can do.
As for climbing back to the top of the mountain on which he’s been perched for so long, Tiger should be looking at fellow clutch athlete Kobe Bryant. In 2003, Bryant found himself in a similar situation after an extra-marital affair and rape accusation. Just as in Tiger’s case, sponsors dropped Bryant instantly in an attempt to distance themselves from his wrongdoings and save some face. An NBA championship, an MVP award and two scoring titles later, Bryant is back on top of the basketball landscape locked in an epic battle for supremacy with Lebron James.
And before long, the golf course will once again host a familiar battle. With Mickelson playing inspired golf and looking better than ever physically, Tiger will be pushing even harder to streamline his resurgence to the top. So any professional golfers who thought this could be the year to capitalize on a down Tiger might want to get back to work because golf’s premier figure is ready to reclaim his crown.
