For more than a decade, Tiger Woods seemed invincible. For a couple of decades, the presence of Woods on a leaderboard made most of his fellow competitors wilt. This week, they were in awe at the fact he could simply tee it up at Augusta National Golf Club.
My, how things have changed.
There was a time when a broken leg and a torn ACL didn’t stop Woods — not just from playing, but winning.
In 2008, Woods limped his way to an incredible victory at the U.S. Open. After a spectacular birdie on the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines, Woods was forced to play another 18 holes on two stress fractures and a torn ACL, but he still managed to top Rocco Mediate.
The 2022 Masters was a different story.
Thursday, Woods made his first start since a serious car accident nearly 14 months ago. With a first-round 71, he found a spot in the top 10 and set the stage for what would have been the greatest sports story in many of our lifetimes.
But, Woods isn’t invincible anymore. The effects of the litany of injuries in his right leg were just too much to overcome.
Rust began to surface during Friday’s 74. On Saturday, it was obvious his leg wasn’t ready for 72 holes around the extremely undulating Augusta National Golf Club. Sunday was sad and hard to watch. Not Woods’ second straight 78, but how he barely managed to walk up the 18th hole.
The way he shifted his hips to collect enough momentum to get up the final fairway, the gimp … it all made what he accomplished over the first 54 holes even more amazing.
However, one thing remains clear: it doesn’t matter if it’s bulletproof Tiger or vulnerable Tiger, he still moves the needle more than any other current athlete.
Just ask Bubba Watson. Following his final round Sunday, the two-time winner of the Green Jacket was asked about his favorite memory of the event – 10 years removed from his last victory there.
“Truthfully, it’s the inspiration of Tiger. Tiger — forget score. I don’t care,” Watson said. “He might not say that to the media, but forget score, right? It’s pretty inspirational.”
Amazingly, Woods did tell the media, something impossible during his prime.
Woods’ career has been defined by victories. Real victories, as in sitting at the top of the leaderboard. For a champion of 93 PGA Tour events, moral victories didn’t exist. A 47th-place effort at Augusta wouldn’t solicit any emotion but anger.
However, perhaps as shocking as his opening-round performance was an answer he gave in the subsequent news conference.
“Was this the equivalent of a victory to you, just showing up and being able to compete like you did?” Woods was asked.
His simple response: “Yes.”
I loved merciless Tiger, but this softer side ain’t bad, either.
In a career that’s unfortunately featured many long layoffs, Woods’ answer proves this comeback has been the most challenging.
A year-plus of PGA Tour inactivity and his often-battered 46-year-old body may have as much to do with Woods’ fragility at The Masters than the injuries sustained in the car accident. And that’s not a bad thing. It means there’s hope we can see Tiger parlay the vulnerability and the ferociousness again someday – something even greater than the 2019 Masters.
World No. 2 Jon Rahm was paired with Woods on Sunday, but Rahm considered himself just another member of the huge gallery following the 15-time major champion.
“If he can walk and get strength up and stamina in that sense, he will be able to be competitive again,” Rahm said. “This is the hardest walk all year. He will be able to go somewhere where it’s a little easier to walk. It won’t be as long, and I believe he’ll be able to contend.”
I’ll take it. It’s clear I’m not the only one who is just not ready for Tiger to ride off into the sunset.