WATCH ABOVE: Kevin Smith on Tiger Woods’ woes after his withdrawal from The Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday.
CALGARY – This year we all awaited the return of Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour. Let’s see, in mid-January, Tiger had his front tooth knocked out while supporting his girlfriend Lindsay Vonn at a ski race. In late January, he shot his worst ever round of 82 and finished dead last with the world watching in the desert in Phoenix during Super Bowl week. And Thursday, Tiger bladed chips, pushed shots, drove only one ball into a fairway, and then after 11 holes drove away from the course, his bad back keeping him from finishing another event. How’s your 2015 going?
Like most of you, I’ve followed Tiger’s entire career, dating back to his amateur days with the legendary comebacks and even more legendary celebrations. Everyone knows the numbers: 14 major titles, 79 tournament wins. Everyone knows his history of changing swing coaches, having a rough patch and then returning to the top each time. Winning the 2008 U.S. Open on one leg, his personal scandal, his 2014 back surgery, missing the 2014 Masters. Look–he’s one of the most famous athletes of the last quarter century so everything is known–except where Tiger goes from here–which is a huge unknown.
Last week when Tiger was hitting shots worse than a 20 handicapper, it was shocking, but I wasn’t very concerned long-term for Tiger. He’s 39 years old–retirement age for a hockey player–but still a half decade or more of the highest-calibre play for most pro-golfers.
And since I hadn’t seen Tiger in three or four months, I was buying what Tiger was selling; that he was healthy, feeling good, feeling strong and hitting the ball further than he has in a decade, using a new swing that while not tight yet is easier on his body. I can honestly say Thursday when I saw Tiger reach for his back once again, it was the first time I ever really uttered in my mind: “He’s not catching Jack.”
Jack Nicklaus won 18 major titles and Tiger has been stuck on 14 for the past seven years. For Tiger to break Nicklaus’s record, he would have to have Phil Mickelson’s career using the game and body that Tiger has left. Big ask, even for Tiger.
Tiger is in a tough spot, The Masters is nine weeks away and that’s the next must start on his calendar. In Tiger’s last comeback, he achieved everything: Player of the year, world number 1, big event victories, he accomplished everything except win a major title. He missed The Masters last year after his surgery, and being there to cover it, I can tell you it was a much different feel.
Tiger is like a rock star when he walks onto the grounds of Augusta National; I can’t imagine him missing back-to-back Masters, and still can’t believe the last of his four green jackets was 10 years ago! Tiger has to play to get his game back, but now when he plays it gives him a bad back.
Like most people I ask myself why Tiger can’t just shut out all the voices and opinions and just head to the range by himself and get his swing back to a form that feels natural. Tiger needs alone time, and I’m not alone in hoping he comes back to challenge Rory McIlroy and Nicklaus’s records. What do you think?
Tiger Woods won’t be around to compete this weekend in San Diego, but some of the best players in the world will. You can watch third and final-round coverage on Global TV starting Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. MT.
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