Will Tiger finally be playing in a competitive round this year at Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas?
This is the question that everyone wants to be answered when the first week of December rolls around because he committed to the Safeway Open in September just to pull out on the Monday before the tournament.
Even if Tiger Woods decides to tee it up at the Hero World Challenge, will we see the old Tiger when he just cruises to victory or will this be a long road back to normal for the former No. 1 golfer in the world. He is currently ranked 831st in the world being last seen on the course at the 2015 Wyndham Championship in August where he tied for 10th. Following the Wyndham Championship, he had two back surgeries and told everyone he would return back to action when he was fully recovered.
After being a vice-captain in the recent Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, can winning the cup and bringing it back to home soil lead Tiger back onto the course where he hopes to resemble how the Americans played there. Some fans at Hazeltine were pressuring Tiger into hitting some balls at the range but he never did, keeping people on their toes until he returns.
Once he gets back on the course, nobody will know if he will have that elusive power, the short game wizardry or willing putts in from anywhere on the green like the old Tiger would. Something we do know is that Tiger should increase the television ratings once he makes his return but since he’s been off the course, there have been many first time winners, there’s still the likes of Spieth, Mcilroy, Johnson and Day who are all very elite players still in their primes with Johnson being the oldest of the group at just 32 years old.
“Will Tiger win another major?” is another question that pops into everyone’s heads. He won his last major eight years ago at the 2008 U.S. Open in a playoff against Rocco Mediate. Could that be his last or we will see someone finally break Jack’s record of 18?
In a PBS interview with Charlie Rose earlier this year, he was asked, “If he could catch Jack’s record,” the answer could stun some of you when Tiger replied with “no”. Later on in the interview, he was then asked if he has accepted the fact and his response was, “I’ve accepted I’m going to get more.” Knowingly he said, “I’m going to get more” could hence the fact that he plans on passing Jack before ending his marvelous career.
Whenever Tiger decides to put his clubs back in action, I will still be one to follow every shot of his even with the young guns out there. He may not be the same when he first comes back but his name still might scare the leaders on the board if he makes a run on Saturday come Sunday. He won’t have the firepower like before but if his putter gets hot everyone better watch out.
When Tiger Woods decides to hang it up, the game of golf will still be in good hands with Spieth, already a two-time major champion, Patrick Reed an upcoming top 5 player in the world especially come Ryder Cups and Rory Mcilroy who is already a four-time major champion at the young age of 27. With Tiger in the game makes these leaderboards that much tougher and more players to watch come Sunday at a major if he were to be in contention.
