Tiger's back, yet again!
SteemSports Presenter: @rjmcevoy
SteemSports Editor: @mojorisin
Tiger Woods, golf’s last standalone superstar, makes his latest comeback this week in Bermuda at the Hero World Challenge, which is the slightly grand name for a 16 man hand-picked field playing for fun in the sun-blessed Caribbean.
The golfing world is agog at the great man’s latest return, with grown men reportedly booking time off to see what some are suggesting is close to the second coming. Certainly Tiger has been feeding the fire, posting Instagram videos of his swing, and famous stinger, for his adoring fans to fawn over.
The big problem is that although it is good that his back has recovered so he can play the game, there is a massive difference between a few swings with your mates and playing at the highest level of the game. There are many factors why this comeback and its fawning might be based on blind hope rather than expectation.
Firstly, there is the fatigue factor. Playing 4 competitive rounds in 4 days, and walking the 12km or so that goes along with it is rather tiring, especially in the deep core muscles used in the modern golf swing. Tiger is older now, and will be protecting injuries in his knees and back, so it is open to question whether he has the conditioning of the core and back he will need to play well over 4 days. Tiredness of course, will lead to poor sequencing, and possibly in the worst case, injury recurrences.
Secondly, it is now over 8 years since the infamous November night when his then wife Elin found out about his other interests. 8 years. That is a long time for anyone, let along a professional sports man. He was last competitive in 2013, when he finished in the Top 10 at the Masters and The Open, which is still 5 years ago. No sportsman who hasn’t been competitive for so long can expect to come back at the same level.
Finally, the bad news is that Tiger is now definitely an old man in a young man’s game. The number of 40 plus year olds competing and occasionally winning can be counted on one hand, so to expect Tiger to come back and win regularly is wishful, and to win 4 majors to match Jack Nicklaus 18 is so unlikely its hardly worth mentioning.
In truth, the best that Tiger fans can hope for would be 1 win to prove that he has conquered his injuries. If this came in a major, at Augusta maybe, that would be the icing on what is one of the greatest careers the game has ever seen. Hopefully his fawning fans will remember the good times rather than this latest attempt at a coup de grace.
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Tiger Woods reminds me of Mike Tyson. Leader in his field who fell from grace after being separated from his long time training companion and friend.
With Tiger it was his old caddie Steve Williams, and with Tyson it was Cus D'Amato, his first pro trainer and manager.
Unrelated, perhaps but curious nonetheless.
A sportsperson never grows old, it is not just about winning, it is good that he is back and enjoying his religion, golf.
I hear what you're saying but I disagree. He is definitely an old man in golf now. He's much older than he was when fully fit (not just in age but fitness).
Yup @steemsports bro its back :)
yeah! In truth, the best that Tiger fans can hope for would be 1 win to prove that he has conquered his injuries. tiger such a great plyar
Do you think he'll ever win another Major? I don't.
No, I don't. There are two many great younger players nowadays. Although it will be great to see him back competing. Will he be able to handle mediocrity, though?
I thought tiger said before he won't play games to compete anymore. But as what we can see he wants to prove maybe that he has still the guts to go along way.
He's a competitor through and through.
Oh yes, and maybe he just said that before because he suffered pains and now maybe he wanted to regain what he have lost. Tnx.
I have seen that era when he was king of Golf, Hope he will reach again top position again in Golf. King of Golf
I'm glad he will return, even it is in a small competition. It was always exciting to see him come out on Sunday wearing the red golf shirt. That's when you knew he was ready to win.No player in my opinion has captured that emotion yet.
It will take a long time for someone else to be as dominant. Injury free he would have beaten the Majors record.
Nice post! Upvoted... I've just put a post up with a link to his press conference. Its well worth a watch to see where he is at and his really positive frame of mind!
https://steemit.com/golf/@bjt34/tiger-woods-is-back