Tiger Woods – Getting Back into Pro Golf Groove

Somewhat lost following a big weekend of NFL games with the playoffs looming, and the final college playoff rankings was the return of Tiger Woods.

After a layoff of 466 days following back surgery and rehabilitation the man who raised golf interest on television the most since Arnold Palmer competed in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
So here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from my perspective.

Actually, there’s little ugly in his return. How can there be? For one, Tiger was able to play the four rounds without any trace of the excruciating  back pain that was so visible before he left the game for nearly a year-and-a-half.
That had to be the number one issue. His health. Hopefully he continues on the right road and doesn’t experience a recurrence of the debilitating injury that required surgery. He swung with authority, if not accuracy, and made 24 birdies. He also had eight bogeys and six double-bogeys, but that is not the point. The fact that he finished 15th out of 17 entrants may also be a non-headline. He won’t be rushing back to the Tour either. He’ll be smart, patient and pick his spots.

His fellow players seemed delighted he was back. They practically welcomed him with opponents arms. They were impressed with how he was able to perform after so long an absence.

What may be the most significant, however, is how Tiger himself viewed the weekend.
It was apparent, and he expressed it as well, that he missed the game.
He appeared extremely grateful that he could actually play golf again. Compete for four rounds without pain. In the past, finishing 14 shots behind the winner (in this case a budding star in Hideki Matsuyama), would have left Woods sullen, non-communicative and at times, rude. Not this time.
So we know the good, and we know the “bad”. The bad being his erratic play. But it’s really, as pointed out, not “bad”, considering.

Tiger expressed his confidence that he can still make a charge to catch and surpass Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record for most major championships won. Nicklaus captured 18, Woods has 14.

I don’t know about that. Tiger Woods will turn 41 at the end of December. The pro golf panorama is filled with young, talented players who will never be intimidated by Woods as so many were when he was in his prime.
His age has to work against him. To win majors, for the most part you have to be playing at an exceptionally high level.  Can Woods ever get to that point again?

With Tiger getting back into the pro golf groove, he will once again be a magnet for attention to the tour.
Whatever fate befalls Woods, I wish him the best. But also wish he softens his demeanor on the course. His penchant for expressing disgust after a shot, his obvious use of obscenities, and his acting unprofessional at times after rounds.
I also wish his off-the-course personal life would take a giant step in the right direction.

I really believe Tiger Woods has learned from his life experiences. Spectacular as they were at one time. Ugly and embarrassing as they were as well.

Time will tell.

Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Nassau, Bahamas.

“Keep an eye out for my new podcast, “Stockton!” We’ll take a different perspective on the world of sports and share stories I’ve collected from my unique front-row seat. To learn more and sign up to be notified when it launches, visit www.StocktonPodcast.com.”

Sincerely,
Dick Stockton