After
year-plus absence, Woods set to return
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[November 28, 2016]
The Sports Xchange
Love him or loathe him, or something in
between, Tiger Woods moves the needle.
That is why golf fans, and some non-golf fans, will watch beginning
Thursday when Woods makes his return to competition after an absence
of nearly 16 months in the Hero World Challenge on the Albany course
at New Providence, Bahamas.
"I am excited to make my return at the Hero World Challenge at
Albany and play in this terrific tournament," tournament host Woods
said in a statement about the unofficial event that benefits the
Tiger Woods Foundation, the Tavistock Foundation and the Albany
Scholars Program.
"This is our 18th year, and every year we put together a top field
that showcases the best golfers from the previous season. Albany is
an outstanding setting, and I can't thank Hero MotoCorp enough for
their support of the tournament and my foundation."
Woods, who has not played since he tied for 10th in the 2015 Wyndham
Championship before undergoing two back procedures (making it three
in just about a year), planned to return earlier.
He was committed to the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif., at the start
of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season in October and the Turkish Airlines
Open last month, but he withdrew from both because he said although
he felt good physically, his game simply was not ready.
There was speculation in the media that Woods' brilliant career
essentially was over because his body repeatedly broke down the past
several years, and also that he lost the fire that made him one of
the best golfers of all time.
Woods, who turns 41 on Dec. 30, admits he enjoys staying home in
Florida and being involved with the activities of his daughter and
son in addition to taking care of his business interests, including
golf course design.
However, he claims he is not washed up and is backed up by those
close to him, including TV commentator Notah Begay, Woods' former
Stanford teammate and a PGA Tour veteran, and agent Mark Steinberg.
"The determination is still there," Steinberg told ESPN in a recent
interview.
Woods has 79 PGA Tour victories, second only to Sam Snead's 82,
including 14 major titles, trailing only Jack Nicklaus' 18.
There was a time when it seemed equaling or surpassing Nicklaus'
record was only a matter of time, but Woods has not captured a major
title since he won the 2008 U.S. Open in an epic 19-hole playoff
over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. He played on a gimpy left knee
that later required surgery.
Woods maintains he can still break the records of both Snead and
Nicklaus, and Nicklaus said he agrees.
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"It's great to see you back and in good health," Nicklaus, who won
the Masters when he was 46, tweeted Woods when Tiger announced his
return. "You've done so much for the game and it's better with you
playing. Good luck!"
While the past three years were almost a total loss, Woods won five
PGA Tour events in 2013, the last year he was healthy enough to play
a full season.
If he can remain healthy, it is in there somewhere.
However, there's no question that many people are weary of the "When
is Tiger going to return" story.
One is Pat Perez, who recently claimed the OHL Classic at Mayakoba
for his second PGA Tour victory.
"(The story) is old, just in general," Perez told golf.com. "Tiger
changed the game, we do know that, but even if he came back, you're
not going to see the Tiger of old. It's just not going to be there.
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"The media, it's so old to keep listening to, 'When's he coming
back? When's he coming back?' The guy is 40 and he's won 79 times.
In my personal opinion, he doesn't have the same drive he had when
he was 24. I guarantee that. He's got two kids now ... they're in
school, they're active, they're doing sports and he wants to be
there for them. That's understandable.
"It just gets old because it takes away from the Rory (McIlroy), the
Dustin Johnson, the Jason Day, all these great kids. ... We've got a
lot of great kids that are carrying the torch right now. I wish
people would just focus on it as opposed to Tiger's comeback."
Perez is not in the elite 18-player Hero field, which includes
defending champion Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson of
Sweden, Patrick Reed, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Rickie Fowler,
Justin Rose of England, Matt Kuchar, Russell Knox of Scotland and
Zach Johnson.
Woods is a record five-time winner of the World Challenge, but don't
expect that this week. For his fans, simply a few flashes of that
old Tiger magic would be enough.
That, and getting through the week without so much as a limp.
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