Tiger Woods: 10 Reasons He'll Be Back on Top in 2011
Tiger Woods did not have the best 2010. In fact, he very well could have had the worst year anyone has had at any time. He lost his wife, his family and a good majority of his sponsors.
Well, I am here to inform you that they will be back, well his sponsors anyway. Tiger Woods is too good to be this bad. This year will mark a resurgence for the former best player in golf.
They say winning cures all ills, well Tiger will have to do a whole lot of winning this year. I am a firm believer that he will. Here are the reasons.
10. Media Will Tire
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If there is one thing we can acknowledge as certain, it is that the media loves a good sex scandal. There is nothing that sells more papers or gains more hits on the Internet than sex.
But as we have seen in other like stories, once the scandal has some time to run its course, the media is on to some other lascivious tale.
Tiger will always have his indiscretions following him wherever he goes. It just will decrease in importance to the American Public.
Once that happens, Tiger will play a much more loose style of golf.
9. Time
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Sometimes, all you need is time. You have to consider that what Tiger Woods went through would have broken most men. Now we will concede that his problems were all his making, but it is still a lot to deal with and still win.
The ongoing saga and increased media attention on the private side of Tiger has to weigh on his mind. In a sport that demands precision and concentration, the distraction must have been a huge detriment.
As the months go by, Tiger will get used to the scrutiny and learn to play within it.
8. Health
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Tiger Woods not only battled his own demons last year, he battled a knee injury. Now that he has time to heal, he can finally put together the power and precision that made him so wonderful to watch.
Tiger will have even more time to heal and get acclimated as he will not take part in this month's Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
It is a tournament that kicks off the year by inviting all of the past year's champions.
This is the first year Woods was not invited. He will assuredly receive an invite in 2012.
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7. Swagger
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It used to be that golfers would give up their leads in the fourth round of a tournament to Tiger Woods. They just could not help but choke away their lead in the face of Woods and his rise in the standings. It was as if everyone knew he was going to win, so why not help it along.
That swagger has left Tiger Woods. The swagger that netted him more than a couple of tournaments was doused in uncertainty and embarrassment.
But as golf fans flock back to Tiger, the swagger will return. All Woods needs is one win. One tournament win could go a long way to turning the tide.
6. Other Athletes' Comeback Stories
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If Tiger Woods does turn the tide and come back to the forefront of the golf world, he will not be the first athlete to have done so.
Ben Roethlisberger has sidestepped his sexual harassment case and now has the Steelers as contenders in this year's NFL playoffs.
The real model for success has to be Kobe Bryant. He had almost lost his family after his sexual assault case came to light. He saw almost all of his endorsements disappear. But then he and the Lakers started to win.
Those that criticized him dropped the vision of Kobe the criminal and were forced to see Kobe the champion. He now has a fine list of endorsement deals and two more championships in tow.
Tiger just needs to win, and big.
5. His Colleagues Think So
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Tiger may have detractors in the media. But it is hard to find anyone among his colleagues that thinks he is washed up.
Three-time tour winner Anthony Kim stated, "Tiger will be Tiger again."
U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell chimed in, "I'm sure he has his doubters after the last 12 months, but he is the best golfer who has ever played the game, especially when he's been backed up against a wall...Considering the motivation, the energy he puts into the game, I think he'll be back and could be better than ever."
Those who are closest to Tiger on the course can see what he is struggling with. Another golfer can see when an opponent has it or doesn't. It is clear that his closest competitors are convinced that he will be back to challenge in 2011.
4. Flashes Of Brilliance In 2010
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The year 2010 was not a complete wash. Tiger Woods may not have won any tournaments, but he did show some flashes of pre-2010 Tiger.
There was no more bigger illustration of who he really is than the 2010 Masters. Woods had a dismal first two rounds. Then Saturday started off with much of the same.
Then as if to make a brief cameo, the old Tiger showed through for a bit. He shot a back-nine 31 en route to shooting a five-under-par 66 on Saturday.
That was the lowest round of the tournament by any golfer and put him back in contention.
Lest we forget, he also had a fantastic near-win in the Chevron World Challenge in December. While he lost, he showed to be more adept through four rounds.
Most saw him choke away a possible victory, I see it as a potential return to form.
3. Peaceful Reconciliation
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We were once told that Elin would leave America and take the kids to Sweden. It seems that is ever the more unlikely.
Woods will have the peace of mind of leaving a good portion of his life behind him as he will be moving to a house.
The word is that Elin will be moving as well, not too far from Tiger. That news must take a great burden off the mind of Tiger Woods.
He must have grappled all year with the thought of losing his children to another country. He at least knows they will be nearby to see them.
2. His Competitive Spirit
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The one thing we all knew about Tiger Woods before his scandal was that he had immense drive. Besides his talent, it was the second reason he was so good.
He refused for anyone to beat him. He took losses with great anguish and made certain to be better at the next tournament.
Tiger is facing the toughest trial of his career. He must rebound from the worst season and do it with a scandal still looming.
There are a great number of detractors who say Tiger is finished. That is good news for Woods. The more people saying he can't, the more he will attempt to prove them wrong.
Tiger will not rest until he is again the No. 1 golfer in the world.
1. Talent
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The biggest reason Tiger will be back this year is talent. Woods boats the best, possibly rarest talent in golf we have ever seen. That kind of athletic acumen does not go away overnight.
Losing his family to a sex scandal coupled with an knee injury aided his demise in 2010. But those issues will not break an amazing career.
There is still plenty of magic left in his swing. In 2011, Tiger will prove it. He will be the latest athlete to prove he is human before wowing us with his amazing ability.
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