The most anticipated week on the PGA Tour is here.
He’s back, yeah THAT guy.
The sucking noise you hear out in San Diego is all the media attention being inhaled by one Eldrick Tont Woods — the golfer formerly known as Tiger.
He’s still Tiger, just not THAT Tiger.
There is an undeniable, head-turning, headline-grabbing fascination with the greatest hopefully-active player in the world of golf. Why the fascination that borders on Biblical? Fans of Woods can’t help but live in the past. They remember the domination, the incredible shots, the runaway victories in majors, the unforgettable fist pumps.
They also remember the drastic fall from grace that manifested itself to the max with a bleary-eyed Woods under arrest, his car running on a Jupiter roadside with the 14-time major champion asleep at the wheel.
The irony of it all was that a guy who endorses Monster Energy drinks on the side of his bag was using prescription drugs to try and get some sleep.
Yet another back surgery has been deemed totally successful. All the talking heads along with players and other observers are raving how healthy Woods is, how strong he looks, what amazing ball and clubhead speed he’s producing — all that good stuff.
Claude Harmon III has immediately declared Woods a serious contender for the 2018 Masters. Others tell us he’s going to win again, though they’re not saying when.
Which brings us to this week’s major question:
How will Tiger Woods fare on the course that was once his best friend? Eight wins at Torrey Pines including his last major should provide some sort of comfort level although it’s going on 10 years since his last major victory. Ten years?
Woods will tell everyone he’s excited but you know deep down inside he’s nervous. He’s nervous because of THAT guy, the one who once told the world that “second place sucks.” He’d probably give both his eye teeth to finish second this week.
If you took a poll, you’d probably get a high percentage of people who totally expect Woods to at least make the 36-hole cut come Friday.
“I would be totally shocked if he doesn’t,” declared former PGA Tour player Bill Kratzert, now a talking head on The Golf Channel lineup.
Woods performance will totally depend on conditions. You might recall he was looking like Superman at his Hero World Challenge last December until they got some significant wind and he immediately shot 75.
The best thing that can happen to Woods this week is for the weather to give him calm conditions. It would also help if he started the Farmers Insurance Open on the North Course, which is significantly easier than the tough big brother — the South Course.
What’s the short game going to look like?
You can talk about clubhead speed and ball speed all you want. This PGA Tour comes down to short game.
If he does make the cut, can he possibly contend? If Woods manages to finish in the top 30, they’ll be falling all over themselves and probably declaring that Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 majors is back in play.
Did we mention Woods is 42 years old now?
Is anyone out there considering how deep the talent pool is today? It’s major league deeper than it was when Woods was running rampant over the competition.
Can he win again?
Well, if you consider that Ryan Armour, Austin Cook and Patton Kizzire are winning on the PGA Tour, you’d figure that maybe, perhaps maybe Woods still might be good enough to outplay guys of that skill level.
But the real answer is that no one knows for sure.
Not even Woods.
12 Comments
beege
Hi Tom,
Actually someone does know and its me and he will never win again……………..27 months ago and counting for me to declare tiger finished………not-a-goin’-a-to-a-happen. (that was an italian phony accent)……..too many kids too good and he cannot sustain 72 holes……….if i am wrong and he wins, i promise to be the first to admit i was wrong–BUT until then i am correctoooooooooo.
Tom Edrington
Bob, I’m chuckling, time ain’t on his side, to reverse the old Rolling Stones song…..if he is going to win, he will have to show up at what we might call “lesser” events that the old Tiger would consider totally beneath him…..can’t play in any WGC events unless somehow he makes his way back into the top 60….
beege
Tom,
even those events are loaded with kids that are better than he is right now–they are not intimidated, nor are they lacking tournament tough experience—nope not even the john deere
Tom Edrington
“You’re a hard man, Josey Wales…”
JimmyD5cc
Tiger has as much chance of winning on the PGA tour as I do, and I am a 19.3 index.
Tom Edrington
Wow, Jimmy, that’s pretty harsh….
JimmyD5cc
Perhaps harsh, however I do feel it is the truth. He is great for the game, but his winning days are behind him.
Tom Edrington
The talent pool now is a lot deeper than when he was dominating the tour. Still, he is Tiger Woods and maybe, just maybe there’s a little bit of gas left in the tank. Time will tell.
JimmyD5cc
I concur, let’s see if he makes the cut at a course he was won on 8 times.
Tom Edrington
After getting it around in even par on the South course, I concur with Bill Kratzert over at the Golf Channel — I’d be shocked if he doesn’t…..North Course presents more birdie opportunities, from what we saw on Thursday, he should be able to play well enough to stick around for the weekend…..
beege
HE WILL NEVER WIN AGAIN…………………..i get carried away as you know but after 27 months of being right, i don’t plan on relinquishing my number one status………..gosh its fun winning
Tom Edrington
Bob, that gave me a belly laugh!