Tiger Woods, a name we are all too familiar with. Rather it would be for the good, the bad, and the ugly. And for the better part of the decade it has mainly been for the bad and the ugly. From a very publicized divorce back in 2009, after word got out Woods was having extramarital affairs with numerous women. Just a year prior, he won his last major at the 2008 U.S. Open. He won that major in such dramatic fashion, basically winning that major on one leg, and having to win it on a Monday after going to a sudden death extra round against Rocco Mediate.
It’s Been A Long Time Coming
Woods turned pro at the end of summer 1996. By the end of April 1997, he had won three PGA tournaments, including his very first Major championship at the 1997 Masters, doing so by a record breaking 12-stroke margin. Three months later, he would be ranked the #1 golfer in the world.
Woods would go on to dominate the golf world into the new millennium. He would win the 2000 U.S. open once in record breaking fashion by a 15-stroke margin. From August 1999 to September 2004, 264 weeks to be exact, he would retain the top rank. And once again for another 281 weeks from June 2005 to October 2011.
From December 2009 to April 2010, Woods took a self imposed hiatus from golf to get his life in order and eventually divorcing from his ex-wife Elin Nordegren. After this, it seemed like his golf form was lost, going winless until the 2011 season. He dealt with injuries, while also being linked to a doctor revealed to be giving athletes human growth hormone. His world ranking would drop to #58 in November 2011.
The Ups and Downs Of It All
After 107 weeks without a top finish, Woods would win the Chevron World Challenge in December 2011. His next victory would not come until March of 2013 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He would recapture his #1 ranking and hold it until May 0f 2014. After that reign, he would set a new record for the most weeks ranked #1 at 683 weeks.
From 2014-2017, Woods seemed lost. He would have four back surgeries during the time, leading to a drop that saw him ranked outside the top 100 for the first time since 1996. He would eventually drop all the way to the ranking of #1199 as of December 2017.
Yes, a ranking outside of the top-1000.
At the beginning of the 2018, Woods gave us signs of a reminiscent past. The Woods that we all grew to enjoy watching on the weekends of spring and the summer. The Woods that made us get up off our couches and go play golf even if you never even touched a golf club ever in your life.
Later on in 2018, he would jump over 1,000 spots in the world rankings to #26.
And Then This Happened
Woods bolted to the very top of The Tour Championship leaderboard on Thursday with an incredible 65. He would remain tied for first after 36 holes. On Saturday he would quickly begin to break away from the rest of the field and own sole possession of the lead and he did not look back.
Just 18 months prior many, including Woods believed, he was “done”. The constant back and nerve pain that had plagued him for years seemed to be a thing of the past.
Somehow, he dug deep after having back fusion surgery in April of 2017. His victory on September 23, 2018 at The Tour Championship was just as impressive as any of his most famous victories.
To see him walk to the 18th green Sunday was so reminiscent of his walk to the 18th at the 1997 Masters. Thousands of people walking behind him, chanting his name over and over again, and all of us just patiently waiting on Woods to sink his final putt to seal his first victory since 2013.
As he sank that putt, it was basically the equivalent of hearing Paul McCartney singing “Let it Be”. It was simply put, beautiful. You wanted to cry or you did cry.
Welcome back to the spotlight in a good way, Tiger.
Good to have you back!