Tiger Woods Finally Wins Again: Let's Not Get Too Excited

Count me among those not very excited about Tiger Woods finally winning another golf tournament.

OK, it is news, good news, and Tiger was pumping his fist at the end, with a winning birdie put—like the Tiger of old.  I’ll give him that.   But if we are really set to usher in the next great Tiger Woods era, then we have to see him do it again.  Maybe I’m being a little harsh in not celebrating the “struggle” he has obviously overcome—oh well.

Time for a little bubble bursting.   And please don’t call me a hater.  I am a Tiger fan.  But I also base my observations in fact, not fantasy.

First, the Chevron World Challenge is a glorified exhibition, with a small, elite field of golfers—only 18 participants.  It should also be noted that the Chevron Challenge does not count as an official PGA Tour victory, so it doesn’t add to Tiger’s official win total, which will remain at 71, the third-most victories in PGA history behind only Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead.

Further, someone wins every week in the golf world. The key to greatness—and the Tiger we knew was indeed great—is winning again—soon.  Most golfers don’t.   That is why it is rare to see a golfer with multiple wins on the golf tour each year.  The old Tiger was the exception.  And he was the reason so many of us tuned in to see him play.  We knew he wouldn’t  tease us with a rare victory and then follow it up with the expected long string of losses like the other guys.  The old Tiger actually won multiple tournaments every year.

During his heyday, Tiger won nearly 25 percent of the tournaments that he played in.  No golfer in history ever won that often.  In the meantime, I will take Tiger’s victory Sunday for what it is—a win.   A single victory for a man who indeed has struggled with his swing and his putting for the better part of two years.   But I will not proclaim him “back” until he wins his next several tournaments.

For now, Tiger is still just another golfer.  But perhaps the victory will at least boost his sagging confidence, which seemed to take an even greater hit than his erratic golf swing and his disappointing putting.

But don’t get me wrong, as a longtime Tiger Woods watcher and fan, I am looking forward to his next win. I just hope it won’t take another two years to witness.