When Tiger Woods' unfortunate car accident in February 2021 happened, a common thought on most people's minds was how his golf career would be affected.
Could he come back?
And even if he could, would he?
I'm an avid golfer myself who tries to get out at least once a week and this was a common topic of conversation in between holes. I don't have an official number, but I'd venture to guess 98% of the time I asked other golfers if he was coming back they would reply simply "no".
When they returned the inquiry, I responded 100% of the time "yes, he's coming back."
To what exact playing state was to be determined. I just could not see a golfer with his competitive mindset not at least giving it a go. People would then wonder what success would be for Tiger, and public perception is subjective at best. Options often ranged from making the cut to winning a tournament outright. But Tiger's first win was walking away from that accident with both legs and being able to live life with his family. Everything after that is house money.
Tiger spoke with Golf Digest for his first major exclusive interview about his future back in November, and it seemed as if he was at peace with his new reality.
“I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest, and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.”
Tiger's legendary 2019 Masters win alone is something he could live off of the rest of his career had he not picked up a club again. Yet the itch persisted to get back on the course, and it came along like baby steps. He mentioned in that interview that he started to gage his hands' abilities by catching items in the hospital, then progressed to physical rehabilitation, a wheelchair and finally crutches.
“Adding that part into my day-to-day life was so rewarding because I’d been stuck in a house. Granted, it’s a pretty nice house I’ve built for myself, but I hadn’t been able to do the one thing I love to do: I love to go outside and just be outside. Sometimes I just crutch and lay on the grass for an hour because I want to be outside. Missing the contact of a golf ball hit properly is one of the better feelings.”
Tiger wasn't wallowing in self pity. He was moving forward. Whether you're in some sort of physical or mental funk, daily wins are huge. They differ for each person, and could be something as minute as taking a shower and changing clothes. Yet after an accident that might sideline most, here Tiger is- moving forward.
Nike's "Just Do It" might seem a bit cliché here, but it works on pretty much any path of life. Whatever your goal is, just attempting to accomplish is an accomplishment in itself. Then you get a taste of what it may be like, and you take another step. Then another.
Just do it.
Boarding a plane for people, even celebrities, is not news. But when you're Tiger Woods and the Masters is right around the corner, it's DEFCON 1 level news. The golfing world was on the edge of it's seat on what exactly this meant for Woods.
Outlets eventually confirmed he was practicing for golf's most prestigious tournament. And Tiger finally confirmed himself that he would be making his PGA return at Augusta. When asked if he could win, the answer was simple.
Tiger Woods believes he can win a sixth Green Jacket this week. #themasters pic.twitter.com/WHjD4BcOcx
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 5, 2022
Woods played steady and was +1 after one round. He'd make the cut and finish +13. That score might have made prime Tiger quite frustrated, but Woods' optimism and smiles after the Masters wrapped up was a welcomed sight. This walk up the final hole was worth the price of admission alone:
The chapter ends on Tiger Woods' 24th Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/uNyEsieMXC
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2022
Tiger's next appearance was this week's PGA Championship, which saw the 2022 Masters winner Scottie Scheffler not even make the cut at +6, with plenty of other big names (Collin Morikawa +8, Jon Rahm +8, Hideki Matsuyama +6, Jordan Spieth +5) struggle after three rounds with wind, unpredictable greens and more. Only 16 total players are under par. To put that in perspective, all 83 players who made the cut in last week's AT&T Byron Nelson were at least four under par with 16 at least nineteen under par.
The week began with media and golfers discussing how good Tiger looked in practice and walking around Southern Hills more comfortably than at Augusta. Hope was once again high, and an early -2 after five holes had fans elated. Tiger would end up going 10 over par in round three and withdrawing from the tournament.
Yet while there may be a minority of people out there scoffing at his withdrawal and seeing it as quitting- it's anything but. Tiger's body simply can't sustain a tournament right now, or at least in the sense of competing at the top of the PGA. There's no shame in that. Instead there should be admiration for Tiger competing and giving fans something to root for.
I couldn't imagine being comfortable being watched by millions of people on my best day, and here Tiger is at his most vulnerable, daring to try. That sense of resilience can resonate with just about anyone.
Plenty seem to be discussing the possibility of retirement which seems a bit premature. This isn't about instant gratification- which would be impressive in this context- but about the process.
I'd imagine there's no timetable on Tiger being able to compete at the top again- and it may never come with as deep as the field is in 2022. But if there's one more thing people love just as much as a comeback story, it's the potential of one. And as long as Tiger keeps moving forward in whatever capacity that may be, that potential comeback lives on.
