Return of the Tiger?

The former number one golfer in the world is starting to play great golf again after a downward spiral

By JOSHUA NATOLI
Staff Writer

Tiger Woods had fell victim to the worst definition in the sports world dictionary: “has-been.” Ever since the downward spiral Woods faced at the hands of the fateful car accident in front of his home two Thanksgivings ago, Tiger has lost more than his touch.

Having not won a match since that date and posting dreadful scores, Tiger has not been Tiger. Everyone has written him off. Now it’s possible this is the time to embrace his return to greatness.

After Woods dropped to 58th in the world, he took his talents to Australia for two weeks to play in the Australian Open, and then the Presidents Cup, a team event between the United States and the International team. Finally, taking the swings he has taken at home to the tournament stage, Tiger finished third in the Australian Open and looked to take his newly found success to the Presidents Cup.

The Presidents Cup posed as a very large stage of scrutiny for Tiger. Woods faced much criticism for even being picked by U.S. team captain Fred Couples to be on the squad. International team captain Greg Norman even chimed in to publicly criticize Couples for the selection. Tiger responded to this in the way he knows best, winning.

Woods clinched the victory for the U.S. by beating Aaron Baddeley, 4 and 3 in match play in which Tiger holed six birdies.

Is this the return of the Tiger we are so used to seeing? Tiger had been going through a personal collapse from the unearthing of the affairs he had been having with his wife, his battles with sex addiction, removing himself from tournament play due to injury, firing of longtime swing coach Hank Haney, and firing of his caddie and best friend Steve Williams.

All of these factors played a role for the horrific golf Tiger has played over the past two years. Anyone who plays golf knows that you cannot play well when thoughts cloud your mind. Now imagine being the best golfer in the world whose private life has come crashing around him. Superman would have a hard time playing in those conditions.

With Tiger playing so poorly, other players became extremely anxious to become the next big thing in golf. Many thought that Northern Ireland golfer, Rory McIlroy, will be golf’s new superstar after a victory at the Master’s, but that idea died out and McIlroy hasn’t won an event since.

The only person who can be the next Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods. Everyone in the world knows of him and his success. He has been the most dominant force in any sport. The greats like Michael Jordan and Willie Mays are considered to be the best to play in their sports but they both had competition.

Tiger Woods had no competition before his personal life fell apart. It never came down to Tiger versus one or two more golfers. It was always Tiger against the whole field of golfers. That is how ahead of the competition he was.

If these last two weeks are any indication of Tiger’s return to greatness, it will be a welcome sight to the golf world to see that.