Whatever else Tiger Woods may have developed during his latest lengthy absence from competitive golf there appears a new willingness to display a sense of humour.
That Woods privately does a sharp line in wit has been insisted upon for years by those who know him, and the 41-year-old has raised smiles by offering thanks to “the committee of one for picking myself to play” in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas at the end of November. Woods essentially hosts the tournament, managed by one of his companies, and the 14-times major winner’s foundation is a key beneficiary. Whispers that Woods was not only playing but playing well were confirmed with his addition to an 18-man cast that also includes Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose.
The scenario is partly familiar. In the same tournament a year ago, Woods stepped back from a long-term injury absence. He was to return a curious performance by making the joint-highest number of birdies in the field – alongside the winner, Hideki Matsuyama – but finishing 15th out of 17 from the players who completed four rounds. There appeared something upon which to build yet Woods missed the cut in his next start, at the Farmers Insurance Open, before lasting only 18 holes in Dubai when citing recurring back pain. Another competitor in the Middle East had remarked how Woods “looked like an old man” when taking to the range for warm-up sessions. Woods was in pain and searching for answers that weren’t forthcoming.
The intervening period has seen Woods arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, a matter concluded only in recent days as he pleaded guilty to reckless driving on a personal appearance at a Florida court. The May incident in which he was found by police asleep behind the wheel of his damaged Mercedes, with his engine still running, triggered widespread sympathy but also assertions that Woods’s career was over. It also served as a reminder of how Woods transcends sport. As police mugshots popped up on phones and tablets – cruelly, it must be said – the world took notice of this fallen hero.
Woods grabs limelight and moves needles like few others. His presence on the golf scene provides a boost. No one could reasonably play down what would be one of the greatest sporting stories of all time should Woods return to the summit of his sport. It is impossible to make the case for that happening, but the man himself has not given up trying.
Week by week, month by month, Woods has become more visible. He has also looked healthier with each photograph or video. Comparisons, even facially, between Woods at the time of his Dubai withdrawal and this week as he posted a commentary on favourite Halloween costumes are stark.
There has been plenty to admire in how Woods has approached his latest journey towards tournament golf. He did not use the inevitability of intense focus and sideshow to skip a role as vice-captain to Steve Stricker at the Presidents Cup. This – as also witnessed at the 2016 Ryder Cup – links to one of Woods’s most endearing developments, the greatest player of a generation being willing to impart advice towards others. Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler have spoken of the influence of Woods, with the former pictured having dinner with his idol in the immediate aftermath of US PGA Championship success in August. “It was surreal,” he said. “I probably got just as much joy out of that as I did winning, which is just bizarre to say and probably for you to hear me say.”
Woods, once so notoriously single-minded to the point he appeared to care little about others within his professional environment, now looks to have benefitted from staying in touch with youth. It will inevitably be an incentive to Woods that he can soon attempt to outscore the same batch of players who, in turn, largely owe him for the scale of prize money for which they now play.
Being involved in competition at any level sustains Woods. There has been no taking of the soft option and the fading into retirement or golf course design, upon which time the public would accept Woods’s body could not handle the athleticism required any more. Woods retains deep motivation, which in itself is incredible given all he has achieved and endured. He owes golf nothing, after all, and spends much of his time as a dedicated father.
There is the lingering impression that, should he not win another major championship, that won’t break his heart; but he at least wants to try. It is staggering to think next year will mark a decade since he last triumphed in one of golf’s big four, a juncture at which the subsequent drought was inconceivable. As recently as 2013, Woods won five times.
There will be no expectation of upcoming glory. Woods is 80-1 to win next year’s Masters, at a venue that was once lengthened because the Californian could so readily overpower it. The odds were long enough on his playing competitive golf at all that Woods should be afforded breathing space; and praise for bouncing back from what looked an irretrievable predicament.
