Tiger Woods Re-Opens The Narrative: 83, 84, 85? How About 16, 17, 18?

It was a stretch to see this one coming.

After all, the last time we saw Tiger Woods was at the BMW Championship in mid-August.  He then snuck off and had an arthroscopic procedure to clean out his left knee.

Surprise surgery.

Take away that Masters victory and 2019 wasn’t exactly a banner year for Tiger — in other events he had just two top 10s (T5 at Match Play, T9 at Memorial) and in the other three majors, he missed the cut at the PGA and Open Championships and tied for 21st at the U.S. Open.

So Woods rolled into Japan and made his return last week at the ZOZO Championship.  No course knowledge at the Narashino County Club and who knows how much of that inactivity rust to shake off.

Add that bogey-bogey-bogey start in the first round and things weren’t looking so good for Eldrick.

Then something happened.  He played the last 15 holes that first day in an eye-popping nine-under par.  He gave the nod to his putting and iron play.

Tiger didn’t even make it to the course on day two thanks to about five-to-seven inches of rain from your basic neighborhood typhoon.  Now the schedule would call for long days and perhaps some start-stop stuff — not what Tiger or his soon-to-be 44-year-old body really cares for.

Another 64 on day two then a long day on day three forced him to go 29 holes before darkness halted play.  Yet there he was leading by three with just seven to play, could have been five had not Hideki Matsuyama finished birdie-birdie.  It was a good break for the U.S., we got to see Tiger finish in prime-time television.  He did what he does best — he plodded his way over those final holes and did what he needed to do.  He did the Tiger thing and birdied the 72nd hole to put a huge cherry on top of win No. 82.

Move over Sam.

Once again Tiger Woods has changed the narrative in his sport.  Yes, Jack Nicklaus is still the greatest major champion with 18 but now you have to consider 82 wins and 15 majors and Tiger is making his case for Greatest Of All Time.  And the way he looked last week brings wins No. 83, 84, maybe even 85 into the discussion.  It also brings back that Countdown To Nicklaus — it’s 15 but now there are whispers of 16 and 17 — maybe.

“I can’t do what I was able to do in my 20s,” Tiger points out.  “But I can still manage my way around a course.”

And yes, he sure can, as he proved at Narashino.

Fact is he may still be the best iron player in the world today.  When he gets the driver in play and his old reliable Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS is singing to him, Tiger can WIN.

As a simple reminder to the new generation of challengers and yes, we’re talking to you Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy, Tiger won 46 times in his 20s — that’s more wins than Phil Mickelson’s career total (44).

McIlroy was quick to acknowledge what Woods has achieved:

“In this era to win even 50 times on the PGA Tour is an unbelievable achievement in itself,” McIlroy said.  “Even Phil’s number (44 wins), but to get to 82. I feel like I’ve had a decent career, but if I win six times a year for the next 10 years I still wouldn’t get there.”

Dustin Johnson has 20 wins, Rory 17, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth 11 each.  Add them all up and they’re still a whopping 16 wins short of Tiger.

Yes, Tiger has been the narrative in the world of golf.

And now, thanks to that show in Japan last week, he is once again.