Tiger Woods Poised to Again Write His Own Headlines at Memorial 2013

After spending the past two weeks embroiled in controversy largely because of someone else’s making, the focus for Tiger Woods is back on golf—exactly where the world's top-ranked player wants it and needs it. 

Tiger’s one-under 71 in the opening round of the Memorial Tournament, which left him six shots behind Charl Schwartzel, was his first appearance since the once-private mutual dislike of Sergio Garcia erupted in a very-public, very-ugly feud that dominated the golf news cycle since The Players Championship.

For Woods, however, simply returning to the golf course after a two-week sabbatical that must have felt more like two months was just as important as his efforts to win a career 79th PGA Tour event.

And while his score pales to his opening round efforts in his four previous victories this season, his comfort level back on the links was quite evident.

Calling his 71 the highest possible score he could have posted considering the way he played tee to green, Tiger was, by and large, in control of his swing and was certainly in complete control of his emotions despite carding four bogeys on the challenging Muirfield Village course.

His rather peaceful demeanor and relatively uneventful round was in stark contrast to the controversy that has swirled around him after Sergio mistakenly escalated their public spat with racially-insensitive comments about Tiger nine days ago.

It was the second time in Woods’ career that race was made an issue by another golfer and while he has taken the high-road in the issue, it clearly was a significant disturbance in an otherwise smooth sailing start to the 2013 season.

That said, Tiger was clear heading into today's round that the Sergio controversy was over and done with and his focus was clearly on the Memorial and preparing for the U.S. Open, his latest opportunity to end a five-year major championship drought.

“It’s about playing well, hopefully winning the event and carrying that confidence into the Open,” Woods said on the eve of Thursday’s opening round. “I’m looking forward to the next four days.”

Bottom line, his wasted energy battling with Garcia now behind him, Woods is still in decent shape, despite a rather pedestrian score on Thursday, to again ring the bell in Nicklaus’ event as he did last year after starting with a two-under 70 that had him four shots off the lead.

On Thursday, Woods’ serenity from being back on the course and away from sensational headlines was messed with only by a balky putter and a couple of distance malfunctions that cost him the opportunity for an even better round.  

Yet, if recent history in any indication, Tiger is in good position to challenge for yet another 2013 victory in his final tune up for the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, which he visited early this week.

Only once in his four 2013 victories did Tiger own a share of the lead after the first 18 holes. In fact, Woods trailed by four shots after the first round at both the Bay Hill Invitational and the Players Championship, his last two wins of the season. Additionally, he overcame a three-shot margin after Thursday at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Tiger’s M.O. is to ease out of the gate, put the pedal down in the middle and then slam the door at the close. In three of his four victories this year, Tiger followed solid opening rounds with efforts of 67 or better on Friday, including 65s at both The Farmers Open and the Cadillac Championship.

Given that, Woods is exactly where he wants to be in a tournament he has owned and on a course where he has played many of the most legendary shots of his illustrious career. After playing a far faster Muirfield Village course in the afternoon Thursday, Woods will get a shot at Nicklaus’ layout in the early morning on Friday.

Likely, the world No. 1 will be greeted by the same slower greens and more tranquil conditions that Schwartzel and others such as Scott Piercy and Josh Teater enjoyed on Thursday.

If Woods strikes the ball like he did today and some putts begin to fall, that six-shot deficit is likely to shrink the same way the others did at Torrey Pines, Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass already this year.

As he did in each of those tournaments, as well as at Doral, Woods will enter the weekend in a position to continue the charge and position again for another final round close. Yet whether he does that or not, just being back on the golf course and playing well heading into the U.S. Open is the final step to putting the Garcia saga behind him.

Yes, the two still have to meet for Sergio’s apology and Tiger will undoubtedly be asked about it. That said, the focus of the U.S. Open is always on the golf and so it will be in two weeks just as it is this week at Muirfield Village.

Woods is back in his element, back where he controls what happens around him and, to a great extent, what is written and said about him. As far as Tiger is concerned, Sergio is finally in the rearview mirror, and now it’s completely up to Woods what the headlines will look like in the days and weeks ahead.