The golf world seems split down the middle on Tiger Woods.
The Masters tees off today, and this one is different from all the others since Tiger Woods left the scene. So many young guns claimed center stage after Tiger’s physical and personal problems knocked him off his perch as the world’s greatest golfer, they’re surprised he is getting so much attention.
Major champions like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy are learning what veterans Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els went through for years. Most of the questions directed at them are about Tiger Woods. They wind up talking about Tiger more than themselves, which has to be disconcerting to the new guys who’ve never experienced the phenomenon.
If Tiger were to resume winning majors like he did in the days he was trying to catch Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18, it will be hailed as the greatest comeback in golf, if not sports. Woods was a broken man in more ways than one. First came his injured back that required multiple surgeries from the wear and tear caused by twisting his body into a corkscrew. Then, of course, his emotional breakdown and end of his model marriage after being outed as a serial womanizer who had girls at every golf port.
The fascination over his return is widespread, but the sentiments are divided.
His long time fans will be back in his rat pack on the course, roaring over his every swing, chip and putt. TV, whose ratings will soar, wants him to stay in contention until the back nine Sunday, win or lose.
The ABT crowd – Anybody But Tiger – is just as hooked on watching him again but against him regaining that perch. They don’t want Woods intimidating his competitors into thinking they are all playing for second place. They want the next generation to keep coming on and not fall under the spell of a recovering addict on the mend.
Whether rooting for him or not, it makes for great theater and, thus, is good for the game. Tiger will face a different kind of pressure than just trying to bring another course to its knees and notch another major.
For at least the next two days, until the cut on Friday, everyone will be asking, “How’s Tiger doing?” He will be talking about his game again, and so will everyone else.
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