So, Tiger is back…. again.
It’s now three years to the week since the infamous crash that looked to have finally drawn a line under what has been the most incredible golfing career the game has ever seen.
Fears that he may require a right leg amputation eased to fears that he’d never walk again. Fears that he’d never walk again eased to fears that he’d never play golf again. Fears that he’d never play golf again eased to fears that he’d never be able to compete professionally again. And fears that he’d never compete professionally again eased to fears that he’d never win again. And that’s where we’re currently at.
Anytime Tiger Woods’ name is in the field for an event – be it a PGA Tour event, a Major Championship, a ‘hit and giggle’ like the PNC Championship, or even something as simple as a made-for-TV celebrity match – he draws eyeballs. And why not? Any opportunity to see the greatest player that’s ever played the game, playing the game is one that’s hard to pass. Tiger is, as we’re repeatedly told, not just a ‘needle mover’ but the ‘needle’ itself, and as much as you may hate that statement – and you’re not alone – there is more than an element of truth to it.
And the PGA Tour has never needed Tiger more than it needs him right now. This time last year, the Tour was on a roll. The big tournaments delivered in big ways. Jon Rahm had won at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, at the American Express Championship and made it a hat-trick of wins after a captivating final round at Riviera.
Scottie Scheffler had just won in Phoenix to take back the world number one ranking and Max Homa had won at Torrey Pines. All the big events had produced big-name winners, and Tiger returning and making the cut – a proper cut since there were 120 players last year – was the cherry on top.
This year, the big events have underdelivered. Chris Kirk and Grayson Murray’s wins in Hawaii were great stories for the minority of zealots who know their backstories, Matthieu Pavon winning at Torrey was great for European golf and for France specifically but was underwhelming in the grand scheme of things, and Pebble Beach was ruined by the weather. Nick Taylor’s win in Phoenix made for great viewing, but the Waste Management Open seldom fails to deliver, and Nick Dunlap becoming the first amateur to win since Phil Mickelson back in 1991 was the undoubted highlight.
Meanwhile, LIV have had Jon Rahm contending in both of his two starts, have had other big names in the mix coming down the stretch, and have had two ‘big name’ winners in Joaquin Niemann and Dustin Johnson. That’s not to say that LIV has suddenly become the better product – it hasn’t – but their events have gone much more to script than the PGA Tour’s have.
Tiger’s return could well be the boost that the PGA Tour needs, but for how long can he keep floating the boat?
Making the cut in a top-class field, at the age of 48 and after everything his body has been through is no mean feat. It’s seriously impressive. But it’s not enough. The competitor in Tiger is undeniable. He’ll inevitably be asked in his press conference later today if he thinks he can win this week, and he’ll inevitably say that he does, that he wouldn’t be here otherwise. And he’s probably telling the truth. But can he really? I’m not so sure. As much as I’d love to see his name on page one of the Sunday leaderboard, the realistic expectation is that he’ll be somewhere in the lower half.
And there’s only so long that Tiger playing without competing will create any sort of buzz, and that’s the buzz I’m craving.
That he’s launching his ‘Sun Day Red’ clothing line this week means nothing to me. Besides the fact that the name is horrendous – seriously, is that the best that the marketing department could come up with? Especially when you’ve got a name like ‘Tiger’ to work with – I couldn’t care less what brand is on his shirt as long as it’s red on Sunday.
I know there are plenty who’ll disagree with me, and many who’ll be rushing to get their pre-orders in for shirts, trousers, shoes, etc., but the brand launch this week is a sideshow that may well act as a smokescreen if things don’t go his way on the golf course.
Early indications are that he intends to play more this year, and that’s a good thing, but the cynic in me wonders if the increased schedule could have anything to do with the fact that every time he’s seen in his ‘Sun Day Red’ gear is promotion for a product in which he’s no doubt got a healthy stake. But then the competitor in him pushes back against my cynical thoughts. Would he really keep coming back for financial reasons when he’s already the wealthiest golfer on the planet by some distance?
Tiger’s had more comebacks than most of his competitors have had wins, been written off more times than they’ve had major appearances, but surely this is the last hurrah. Time runs out on us all, and if it’s not this one, I don’t think Woods has another comeback in him.
Golf needs Tiger, that hasn’t changed, but it needs a competitive Tiger, not just a guy flogging merchandise and languishing in midfield.
Here’s hoping it’s the former.
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