Tiger Woods Is Still Sooooo Good

The void in the sports world came to an end over the weekend. 

It felt like a strike had hit the PGA tour for the better part of a year. Fortunately for the sport, it wasn’t like many other major sports; it wasn’t a strike, but rather an unfortunate injury which led to the void. It may be forever known as the knee injury heard round the world.

The disparaging gap may eventually be chronicled as the additional year in which Tiger Woods could have added just that much more to his legacy with a few more tournament wins. 

Yet, justice may have been served on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Country Club. 

In case you didn’t get the memo, here it is: Tiger is back!

If there were any doubts (and there probably weren’t many), he did something we love to see professional athletes do: Tiger Woods came through in the clutch, once again. Only this time it was after a year off in only his third event of this young PGA season, yet he found another win to put under his belt.

With the eye of the ferocious cat, he sank a 15-foot birdie putt to claim a one-stroke victory after 72 holes of play. Then Tiger erupted with a roar of exhilaration and a giant fist pump, putting the doubts and demons to rest.

Tiger Woods is back!

As a writer, it’s important to cover the accuracy of sports. Far too often in the modern day, there are agents, players, coaches, programs, teams, and leagues run amok.  Those stories don’t have the joy or the positive vibe this one leaves with us. Tiger Woods is simply the best at what he does. 

By all indications, he doesn’t use performance-enhancing drugs. He’s not a hold-out. He needs the PGA and the PGA needs him.

Michael Jordan is among the very best of all-time in basketball. Tiger Woods is on track to finish his golf career as the best in golf all-time.

There are times people may get tired of hearing his name, accomplishments, this, that, and the other. Those ideas are understood, but in excess can patronize the general public.

With all of his power, this Tiger does not boast, but strives to be the best.

Whether you follow golf or not, what’s important is that right now, there is an opportunity to watch greatness, true greatness, every time Woods takes the course to play in an event.

It’s not every day in a world that has far too many issues to mention here that a person can witness true greatness and be the better for it.  In Tiger Woods' case, it’s true.

Tiger has teeth and claws rooted in his game, but it’s all a measure in taking care of his own. The game he grew up loving is deeply-rooted in his fiber, and we see his emphasis on excellence every time he finds a way to make something out of nothing.

Since the passing of his father Earl Woods in May 2006, things have been noticeably different and probably more challenging, at times, professionally, for Tiger.

He’s won tournaments.

He’s felt the emptiness without his father.

He’s become a husband and father himself in recent years.

He’s honed in on his focus and determination. He’s human in the way he plays and in the way he wins.

He’s made mistakes and found ways to get out of them.

He’s had to fight through a nagging knee injury when people said he may be finished.

He’s had to rehab and take time off to position himself for the future.

He’s won another tournament, which makes the total 66 so far, and he’s only 34.

Tiger Woods is back!

This is a sincere story about a man who has worked hard to overcome barriers on and off the golf course. Those who understand it have a full appreciation of how he has used the Tiger Woods Foundation to create dreams and opportunities for inner-city youth who might otherwise not have a chance to dream like Tiger dreamed.

Woods is the career money winner on the PGA, having won just over $83.6 million.  His average drive off the tee is around 293 yards.  He’s ranked first in average score (69), made 225 cuts out of 239 events played, has 24 second place finishes, 17 third place finishes, a thunderous 152 top-10 finishes, and 199 top-25 finishes. 

He really has far more pressure on him than meets the eye, yet he seems to take it all in stride and to deal with each critic and life issue as it comes.

Tiger is what a man should be through his imperfections in his profession.

He’s focused, reliable, and above all, Tiger believes in Tiger.

Failure and trial may occur from time to time, but that is not the point.

The point of relation is that we are able to see the drama develop and unfold in real time. A guy who could feel the weight of the PGA on his shoulders, stands and delivers time after time after time, then lights up the air with a fire in his eyes, that glazing smile, and a fist pump of a champion signaling mission accomplished.

That is as sound and reliable as it gets. 

That is what makes the story of Tiger Woods so great.

So while major corporations have dropped sponsorship of Tiger through the economic downturns, he proves he’s still worthy of corporate dollars if anybody is. The fact that Tiger plays golf is even that much more of a selling point to his life story.

It takes some power and strength to do what he does, but it’s the fact that he’s able to shift gears from the long game, to the middle game, to the short game, to sinking a long putt with the tournament on the line.

Tiger Woods putts better from 15 feet out than many NBA players can sink a free throw, and that's with a bigger ball going into a much bigger hole from a shorter distance.

He’s awesome.

His talent is amazing.

His legacy continues, and that is the best part of this story.

The hope is that sports fans and non-sports fans alike will all be able to see his talent while there is still time to watch and appreciate his greatness. He’s back from a difficult knee injury and rehab. He’s proving it again, and he’s shown he has more in store for the future.

Tiger Woods is still soooooooo good!