Tiger Woods is on the 18th Green on a warm humid April afternoon in August Georgia. Tiger is walking up to tap in his short putt to win his first Masters in 14 years and his first major of any kind in 11 years. Tiger taps the put in to seal the deal. Tiger extends both arms out to the skies and exults a loud scream that could be heard oceans away. Jim Nantz says one of his many famous calls, “the return to glory!” Indeed it was the return to glory, I spoke to some of my friends afterwards and many of my friends admitted they shed a tear. Grown men were crying over a golf tournament. But this wasn’t any golf tournament, this was a thing of legend. A moment that will be told to our children’s children, it’s Willie Mays over the shoulder catch in the 54 World Series. It’s Muhammed Ali Vs Joe Frazier. It’s Michael Jordan’s follow through after the crossover and maybe slight push off of Byron Russell. How does Tiger do this, how does Tiger reel us in? It is the 10th Wonder of the World. It’s the dilemma that golf is in, especially after the rollover accident on February 23rd in Los Angeles which nearly killed Tiger and will likely lead to a retirement from competitive golf.
We know the stories of Tiger Woods, if you don’t maybe you should read a magazine, any magazine! After Tiger Woods won three consecutive US Amateur titles. Tiger would win the Masters by 12 strokes at the young age of 21, absolutely pulverizing August National. Tiger would complete the Tiger slam (holding all four majors at the same time) by the age of 25. Tiger would lose his father in 2006, he would close himself off the world even more (already a very private man). But Tiger would continue to keep winning golf tournaments and majors. Tiger would win his 14th major at the age of 32 in 2008 on a torn ACL, yes to add to the legend. Tiger would have surgery on his knee after that victory and miss the rest of the 2008 Season. Tiger would return in 2009 and would be in position to win his 15th major at the 2009 PGA Championship, then something happened that never did before. Tiger would get caught and passed. Not by anyone, but by a golf journeyman named Y.E Yang. Tiger would lose his opportunity at #15, but no one could foresee what would occur over the next ten years.
Then the news of Tiger’s infidelities and eventual divorce would follow later that fall. Then all of the back surgeries, a brief return to dominance in 2013 (five wins), but still no major championships (or really even in serious contention for a major). Then more back injuries, then the chipping yips. Then the DUI in Florida in 2017 when the mug shot of Tiger looked like a man who had lost his way, the legend has become man. Tiger at the Masters dinner in 2017 could barely walk, was telling many of the other golfers at this dinner he may never play again competitively, but then after six months of rehab something happened. Tiger started to practice, Tiger started to play with friends without feeling pain. Tiger decided what the heck he will give it another go on the tour.
The new Tiger would return to golf in the winter/spring of 2018. This Tiger would be a different Tiger. The legend would be very stand offish, feared by his foes. But this new Tiger would become a mentor to the young stars of the game. Tiger would be very approachable with his fans unlike before. This Tiger was likeable, he was an underdog. The underdog is the one thing all of us Americans can get behind. Then in back to back majors in a span of four weeks Tiger did something he hasn’t done since 2009. Seriously contended with a chance to win. Tiger would fall short at the Open Championship and PGA Championship but what Tiger would do for himself and all of us would make us believe, it made us believe that he could win again. If he did win the man would once again become legend.
So when that putt went in the cup on that fateful April afternoon to finally win the long awaited #15 we would have arguably the greatest sports moment of the 21st Century. There are many great ones but I can’t think of one greater than that one. What other moment would have the toughest of men weeping in their living rooms. The why we weep is very simple, when you see a man who had it all lose it all. Many of the reasons his own doing. Then get a second chance, show humility, know he’s blessed to have even have the opportunity and conquer it, that’s the definition of legend. It grabs your heart strings and won’t let go. This is why we watch, this is why we root. You can’t get get attached to the moment without knowing the journey. We all knew the journey with Tiger and were all along for the ride.
Tiger has not been in the mix to win another major since that Masters and I’m sure it doesn’t matter to Tiger. He proved to us and himself that he could do it, shoot he doesn’t owe us a damn thing more. Tiger was on an uphill climb to compete again as it was with his ever ailing back and father time catching up to him. But after the crash in L.A it is almost certain that Tiger’s career is over. So now what, can golf survive without it’s legend or become a niche sport again as it was before Tiger came onto the scene. A country club sport, the sport of etiquette and crazy slacks.
Golf has many young stars today with many different personalities. You have the Spaniard and new father Jon Rahm, who’s intensity is something that we have never seen on the golf course. Brooks Koepka, the quiet man who shows up in the biggest moments and doesn’t look like a golfer but more like a free safety about to come in on a blitz on 3rd and 8. Bryson DeChambeau, a quirky man who put on 35 pounds during the pandemic by eating more protein than Mr. Universe and uses analytics and science to plan his assault on a golf course (well he did now he just uses pure power baby). Rickie Fowler, maybe the most popular and personable golfer out there but is still searching for his first major. Dustin Johnson, the man who has as much talent as Tiger but has always not quite put it together. D.J is the defending Masters champion and maybe he is ready to make his major run that he hasn’t been able to do to this point. There is more talent than there has ever been in the game of golf and many different personalities and characters (I didn’t even include Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in my points above). But filling Tiger’s shoes is something that none of these current stars are able to fill, how can they.
There are only two athletes in my lifetime who was must see TV every time they performed, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Tiger made golf cool, Tiger was the reason millions would ditch their family on summer Sunday afternoons to listen to Gary McCord tell cheesy jokes. That is a thing of legend in it’s own right. The way Tiger made us gravitate to the TV is something we can’t explain. Does everything in life need an explanation? Golf almost certainly will not be as popular without him, but can it survive not becoming the niche country club sport it once was, that question has yet to be answered. But one thing is certain, there is only one Tiger, only one legend, the legend will be missed but not forgotten. We will always have Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews and of course Redbud and Holly. Thank you Tiger for all of the great moments and memories, Sincerely Drew.