Tiger Woods can be even more valuable to the world in retirement.

To approximate the life of Tiger Woods would run parallel to his jaded career as perhaps the greatest golfer of all time. That life took another sharp turn with the single car crash on a downhill road outside of Los Angeles, after which Woods was taken to a nearby hospital while we all held our breath. Please, not another Kobe.

The latest reports are that Tiger’s injuries are serious but not life-threatening. It is hard to imagine that the 46-year-old legend of the game could recover well enough from multiple leg surgeries to keep playing. If not, it may be time to truly give himself to the world.

Despite his stupendous skills and remarkable shot-making, Woods was not everyone’s favorite. Yes, he had a massive following, but enough of his childhood and personal life had seeped out for people not to be totally surprised when his last car crash ended his marriage and threatened his career.

For me, Woods was like Michael Jordan in his reluctance to use his God-given position to do more for mankind. If you wake up one morning and realize you are the most recognizable figure on Earth, there comes an obligation to use your influence to help this be a better planet and a better society.

Like Jordan’s controversial eight-part ESPN series, LAST DANCE, Woods was recently profiled in a two-part HBO documentary. It wasn’t all good, but most of it wasn’t his fault. Although he loved his father, coach and mentor, Earl Woods’ dysfunctional and immoral life left an imprinting on Tiger that he would follow.

His amazing comeback from the physical and emotional distress to win yet another Masters two years ago added to his immortality on the course, and his undeniable love for his two kids shows what is really in his heart; that beat can go on forever.

Bruce Springsteen was already a gold-selling rock and roll multi-millionaire when he entered therapy and learned he had to stop blaming his parents for his own madness. Since then, the Boss has been a much better person while forgiving his mom and dad.

Tiger can still find a way to help change the world. It’s not too late, like his biggest endorsement company says, to just do it.

 

Photo via AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack.