To say Tiger Woods is past his prime is like referring to a puddle as a snowman past his prime. It’s been nearly seven years since Tiger Woods won a major and a year and a half since he finished higher than 40th in one. His off-the-course problems have made the once likable Woods into a pariah, and the thing people think of rather than his golfing achievements. His golfing achievements, as they are, are many. But if he walked away from the game today we’d forever think what might have been rather than what was.
It was more than five years ago that Tiger Woods took his first sabbatical from golf, and for five years I assumed he’d be able to climb his way to the top again. Sure, he’s won some tournaments, and for a time regained his position as the world’s #1, but he’s never been Tiger Woods again. Never been the transformative figure who introduced me and a generation to the game of golf. Or what golf became, because it was never your dad’s golf again.
Well, now it might be.
Recently, U.S. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has started fielding questions along the lines of what if Tiger Woods steps away permanently? Finchem claims the tour can handle it. “It’s good news, bad news,” he says. Right. Good news that all those fans drawn in by Woods will find new ways to spend their money. Tiger was good for business, remember, not just a pretty face. Now a group of no-names will compete for his crown? A new generation of golf fans will have to watch that one. When Tiger steps away–and maybe he has already–the game won’t be the same for me. This is surely the end of an era, my childhood dealt another blow. Yup, I grew up with Tiger Woods. Funny thing is, he’s only a few years older than I am. The cool older brother I never met.
There was a time when Tiger Woods was a lock to break Jack Nicklaus’s career record of 18 major championship victories. Woods won his 14th at age 32, and he’s been stuck there ever since. Many doubt he’ll win one more let alone five. Ah, but the drama and excitement that would follow even one more Woods victory. Like Derek Jeter’s final Yankee Stadium at bat, it would be magical.
And the kid who broke all the rules and all the records was now the old man, recapturing youth for a weekend for himself and his fans. Ah, that will be sweet.