TIGER TEETERS — The Weekly Opine

There must be some serious soul-searching going on in Tiger Woods’ head after his PGA clunker. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

A human mirage

It has been painful watching Tiger Woods play the first two major championships of the Professional Golf Association’s 2021-2022 season.

Woods, attempting to return to top form playing in golf’s toughest tests, raises our hopes during Thursday and Friday opening rounds by making the cut. But on Saturday and Sunday, his oft surgically repaired body gives way to the inevitable. Back fusions, knee surgeries and a nearly amputated right leg have turned golf’s G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) into a shell of his former greatness.

Thanks to a tireless, headstrong commitment to daily therapy and training, Tiger is now able to momentarily flirt and tease, before succumbing to his self-made reality; at least at this moment in time, he cannot compete at a championship level for four consecutive days.

When Tiger burst back onto the scene at the Master’s in April, the sports world buzzed like bees cutting loose from a nest in search of flowers. When he shot an opening round one-under-par 71, nearly everyone (including yours truly) went goo-goo gaga. Show hosts on the Golf Channel prepared to knight Woods, unable to restrain themselves from fantasizing that Woods could win the tournament.

Interviewed after the first round at the Masters, Tiger charmed us with confident talk of being right where he needed to be, under par and within striking distance of the leaders. The Great One’s comments threw logs on the fire, in the process stoking “it could happen” flames.

There was, however, a strong voice of reason and caution. On the evening after Thursday’s first round at the Masters, former European Ryder Cup team captain, Paul McGinley, vehemently argued with his unapologetically giddy Golf Channel colleagues about Tiger’s chances to stay in contention. McGinley eloquently made the point that Thursday was one round, and Woods would likely not feel better during subsequent rounds but instead would deteriorate physically. Prophetic indeed.

Having witnessed Tiger in his prime, when he won the 2006 PGA Major Championship at Medinah, it’s tough to watch him play physically broken in the twilight of his career. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Cold reality

After shooting 71 on Thursday at the Masters, Woods shot 74 on Friday, followed by rounds of 78 and 78 on Saturday and Sunday. Finishing 47th, Tiger was never even a remote threat to win the tournament. It was a testament to Woods’ courage, toughness and grit that he completed all four rounds. In that regard, what Woods accomplished was green jacket-worthy even if the result was not. However, as Golf Channel’s McGinley predicted, Woods labored mightily on the weekend, walking the steep terrain and merciless undulations at Augusta National.

Forty days later, playing in the PGA major last weekend, Woods delivered a similar performance. A shaky opening round 74 on Thursday, a grinding 69 to squeeze into the cut on Friday, then an implosion on Saturday, shooting 79. On Saturday, Tiger did more than labor. He grimaced often as his limp was noticeably more pronounced. The man was in obvious discomfort and pain.

Woods, who now requires hours of ice bath treatments following each round, and three hours of physical therapy prior to each round, rightfully withdrew before Sunday’s final round. Sitting 12 strokes over par, with a scheduled 7 a.m. tee time and a forecast of very cool, windy conditions, it would have been senseless for Tiger to tee it up. (Not to mention his final score could easily have been 20 over par, or worse.)

The question now is, will Tiger attempt to play the U.S. Open in less than a month? What about The Open (formerly the British Open) later this summer? Prior to committing to the Masters, Woods plainly stated he would not play if he did not believe he could win. Where is his mindset after atrocious – by his standards – weekend performances at the Masters and PGA?

Golf Channel’s McGinley says Tiger deserves to be more than a “ceremonial golfer,” which conjures up images of Woods joining Jack Nicklaus and Co. to hit a ceremonial tee shot to kick-off Masters Week.

This golf ball in the rough is emblematic of the current state of Tiger Woods’ body and golf game. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Nobody to blame but Tiger

One item unspoken, as broadcasters wax wistfully about the fortitude Tiger Woods displayed while gutting out hole after hole to survive the cut at the Masters and the PGA, is how Woods ended up in this predicament.

Don’t forget or gloss over the fact that when he crashed his rental SUV, Tiger was driving 90 mph in a zone where the speed limit is posted 40 mph. The road is a twisting, curvy dangerous one. It’s a miracle Woods escaped alive. And another miracle that emergency personnel and doctors saved his right leg from amputation.

Just as Tiger’s back issues stem from a ridiculous exercise regimen he once undertook by training with Navy Seals, the deformed, painful condition of his right leg/foot is squarely his own fault.

Of course, golf is better with Tiger on the scene. And he fared better at the PGA than current Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who missed the cut, as did 2020 Masters winner Dustin Johnson. Other young, healthy notables like Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth joined Woods in shooting well over par at the PGA. So, there.

Here’s hoping Tiger and his team pause for a reset. While Woods admits he’s never going to physically be the same as before the SUV accident, nonetheless, he should allow himself more time to heal.

And Tiger should put aside the thought of winning four more majors, which would break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles. The goal should be squeezing out one more PGA tour victory. Another win would give Tiger the all-time highest total of 84 PGA tour wins, besting the 83-win total he currently has, tied with Sam Snead.

Tiger the uber-competitor says he will not play if he doesn’t believe he can win. Based on his performance at the Masters and the PGA, as of right now, Tiger cannot win. Unless he finds a tournament that consists of only one or two rounds.

Good luck, Tiger. The golf world is pulling for you.