I never thought I would write a column about golf. Well, specifically about the Masters tournament, which recently ended.
Here’s basically all I know about it. It's played over several days in Augusta, Ga., on a beautiful golf course surrounded by azaleas and the winner gets a pretty green blazer and a pot of money.
I am just not into sports, but if I were I suspect golf would be the one I would watch. I do love the fact it remains a classy sport. Manners still count. There are very few temper tantrums and no spitting. I can appreciate that.
Technically, I guess I am not even writing about the game.
I wanted to address the “comeback kid” in the form of Tiger Woods.
It didn’t matter the actual outcome of the tournament. When he showed up ready to play, he had already written the headline.
Tiger made news simply by the fact he was going to make the attempt. It was just February 2021 when he was in that single-vehicle crash and the world wondered if he would even survive his injuries. Then the questions weren’t about if he would play golf again, but if he would keep his leg or ever walk again.
So, here he was, with a history of back surgeries, on the course with one leg held together with rods and pins and screws and still in the chase for another victory. And still with that dazzling smile.
Tiger told reporters he had to have ice baths twice a day to reduce swelling and get circulation moving. (My teeth chatter thinking about it.)
After each day’s gruelling schedule, it was up to a team of medical experts to get him ready for the next round with massage and therapy. Anyone hear the theme from Rocky in their ear?
I found myself wondering what it takes in someone’s core to spur him on to such excellence. The answer, of course, is the heart of a champion.
To be honest, I am not a huge Tiger Woods fan. I lost a lot of respect for him after his 2009 scandal during his marriage. Remember the whole unseemly story of his then-wife taking a golf club to his fancy car’s windshield after finding out about his multiple sexual escapades?
I think a lot of people felt differently about him after that and the image of the golden boy of golf was tarnished. His career certainly suffered as did his personal life.
Despite any personal failings, it didn’t take away his prowess as an athlete. He did fight back at every turn. Maybe the public humiliation made him more humble — at least, it seemed that way.
Woods seemed less cocky, less of a jerk, and more likeable.
No matter what was going on, whenever Tiger was in the mix it was a more exciting tournament. He brought in the big sponsors and the big crowds.
The only reason I even paid attention to the Masters this year was because Tiger Woods was back in it. I love a good underdog story.
In this case, maybe it's even a redemption story.
To me, it doesn’t matter who ended up at the top of the leaderboard and who is wearing the green jacket — the 2022 Masters was put on the map by Tiger Woods.
I find myself singing that classic song by the band Survivor:
It’s the eye of the tiger
It’s the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger
The eye of the tiger.
Oh, yeah, and American Scottie Scheffler won,
