Tiger Woods: Why We Shouldn't Expect Much in 2012

A lot was made about Tiger Woods' year-end victory at the 2011 Chevron World Challenge.

Some believed it was a sign that the Tiger of yore was back and finally rebounding after two years of struggles.

But don't expect much from Woods as he makes his 2012 PGA Tour debut on Feb. 9 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.  The reality is, 2011 should have been Woods' bounce-back year.

Let's be honest: Woods is getting older.  He's 36 years old now and it's not like he's going to get better with time. 

Woods is talented enough to win some tournaments, but he's declining physically, and it's unrealistic to expect him to win another major tournament (although it's still possible).

When you have a golfer like Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, it's only natural to expect him to create magic on the golf course even when the writing's on the wall. 

It's like that in any sport: the superstars are expected to do more than may be humanly possible.

This isn't meant as a declaration of Woods' impending doom.  What I'm saying is that it's unfair to him for us to have such lofty expectations at this point in his career. 

Every human being declines physically, and Woods is no different.  Contrary to popular belief, he's not superhuman.

I agree that he could have done much better before his injury in 2011. 

He almost shocked the world when he placed fourth in the Masters.  But he didn't, and I truly believe that was his last chance to win a major.

And let's be real: the 2011 Chevron World Challenge was star-studded, but most of those stars were past their prime.  The only golfer I felt was a significant challenge for Woods was Jason Day, but he had a miserable tournament.

So, let us not talk about whether Woods will win the Masters, or win a major this year.  Let us appreciate a golfer who is naturally declining, but still fighting.

In the end, we should not be disappointed with how Woods' career ends, but rather appreciative of the marvelous golf he gave us for so many years.