Tiger’s back in the Winner’s Circle — Is it good for Golf?
The drought lasted 749 days, 26 tournaments and 2 divorces — one from his wife, the other from his caddie.
Who’s the happiest person in the world now that Tiger Woods finally won a golf tournament?
His accountant? No. His $1.2 million winner’s check from the Chevron World Challenge will be donated to the Tiger Woods foundation.
Me? No. It’s true that I’m still a real fan, and although I was ecstatic to watch that putt go in on the 18th, I don’t get the honors of being “happiest person.”
Tiger himself? He finally got the monkey off his back after this scandal and injury plagued chapter, but I think he probably ranks only second on the list of happiest people in the world.
The hands down, number one, happiest group of people in the world now that Tiger Woods is back in the winner’s circle is the PGA Tour because love him or hate him, it’s an undisputed fact that not only is Tiger Woods good for the game of golf but the game of golf NEEDS Tiger Woods.
Before you haters get too riled up, I ask you to put your poison pens away. This statement has nothing to do with Tiger’s personal life or the debate as to whether or not he is a good role model for kids and adults. The blogs have been burning up since late Sunday afternoon with Tiger dissenters still fanning the flames with their pithy quotes about extramarital affairs and on the other side hordes of overactive Tiger fans already awarding him the green jacket for the 2012 Masters. Both views are extreme and can be either laughed at or dismissed entirely.
The simple truth is that Tiger Woods is part of an extraordinary group of athletes who possess skills that set them apart from other superstars in their games. There are lots of great athletes. Of the “great” there are a few that are part of an “elite” category. Like Willie Mays and Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods is in this group and his past poor judgment in his personal life will never take that away from him.
When Tiger wins golf tournaments, there’s a certain unexplainable spark in the air that is reserved for sports moments when you realize that you are witnessing historic events that may never again be seen. The Willie Mays basket catch in the 1954 World Series. Michael Jordan’s 63-point game in the 1986 NBA playoffs. And yes, Tiger Woods’ 12-stroke win in the 1997 Masters opened the door for his possible membership into this elite club. But adding 13 additional majors over the past 14 years closed the door and nailed it shut.
When Tiger plays in tournaments, fans come to watch. When Tiger wins, television ratings soar. Tiger is money in the bank and without him winning regularly, the PGA tour has suffered over the past 2 years.
No offense to Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy or a handful of others who have had moments of brilliance on the tour but the simple fact is, they are not Tiger Woods. And they never will be. Watching them win is sometimes fun, but they simply don’t have the magic that captures the world when Tiger plays and plays well.
I don’t know if Sunday’s win at Sherwood means that Tiger is back. I hope so. Golf has not been as much fun to watch over the past 749 days. I interviewed a lot of fans at the 2010 US Open in Pebble Beach last year to get a reading on how golf fans are feeling about Tiger Woods. One woman I met said it best. “The man is in the doghouse, but I still love the golfer.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
