Chansky's Notebook: Warming Up To Woods

via Wikimedia Commons

It seems that golf legend Tiger Woods is winning his way back into our hearts.

The man who once held the title of world’s greatest golfer is doing his very best to prove his professional life could indeed begin again at 40. After being written off by most of the masses and media following six surgeries, Woods has slowly crept back into contention on the PGA Tour. Now came his best finish in a major in five years.

Woods still wears red on Sunday, his traditional color on the day he plans to hoist a trophy. But otherwise, the look is much different. He doffs his cap more often to the galleries, disdains the flashy fist pumps when he makes a birdie and, at the Open Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland, Woods had his two young kids in tow and shared warm hugs with them.

The odds are now not so long that Woods will win another major after he finished fifth, and actually led the Open briefly midway through Sunday’s round. His game is different, not the power ranger off the tee but showing a better short game and recovering his putting touch.

Woods was once unbeatable for two reasons. He was the best player on the course, especially on Sunday, and his mere presence had the competition wilting in his path. That isn’t the case anymore, as he is now trying to match who have become the greatest players in the game. But he still has that guile and experience. Tiger’s critical mistakes are fewer and his birdies are more frequent.

He placed sixth at the Open, shooting his third even-par round after getting into contention Saturday with a five-under 66. But how the game around him has changed! Tied for second with Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy were Americans Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele, players I had barely heard of before the weekend. Tied for sixth with Tiger were lesser-known American Kevin Chappell and Brit Eddie Pepperell.

Sure, Woods finished higher than a host of regular contenders – such as Jordan Spieth, Web Simpson, Zack Johnson and Jason Day. Phil Mickelson, against whom Tiger will play a $10 million challenge match later this year, was way back at 24th.

But, as a Tiger doubter since he left the tour in disgrace, I like his new look and demeanor. I‘m a fan again.