It is inconceivable to say, at this level, whether or not Tiger Woods nonetheless has an opportunity to interrupt Jack Nicklaus’ file of 18 wins within the Grand Slam.
It’s unlikely if you happen to consider it in a sensible approach. He’s 46, walks with a noticeable limp from his reconstructed proper leg, has a surgically adhered backbone, and there are occasions when he cannot resist utilizing the cane as if it have been a cane, bracing himself as he navigates very fastidiously within the uneven terrain of the golf course.
However what is evident, after watching the primary champ 15 instances final weekend on the Masters, is that he’ll maintain attempting. He’s keen to place up with no matter ache the longer term holds, simply to maintain attempting. And whereas nobody is aware of for positive what actually motivates him at this level in his life, the twilights of Tiger Woods’ profession appear to have nothing to do with ambition or legacy. He as a substitute continues, for one final act, due to one thing that has eluded him principally all through his profession.
It’s – in the end – having enjoyable.
It looks like an odd factor to write down about essentially the most ruthless opponents the game has ever seen. On the top of Woods’ powers, I felt he would spend a whole week in a specialty and barely make eye contact with anybody. He lived in his personal world, pushed individually, decided to not present any trace of weak spot. However surviving a automobile crash slightly over a yr in the past that almost value him his proper leg appears to have impressed Woods to see any golf he left in a unique gentle.
“Thanks,” Woods stated Sunday evening, smiling when requested about his largest ready-made meal of his week. “I maintain saying it, however I’m. I actually am. I actually am.”
There have been a number of instances final week when he frowned, a handful of instances when he cursed, and even a number of instances he appeared like he needed to choose up a membership. The fireplace of competitors continues to be burning, and it most likely shall be. It was, in its personal approach, comforting. Not solely does he pose as a celebratory golfer, he thinks he nonetheless has an opportunity to conjure up some magic.
He did not need to play to be able to play,” stated Fred Coples, considered one of Woods’ closest associates. “He can play at dwelling. He can take pleasure in his youngsters, play with them day by day and have the time of his life.”
However Tiger additionally did issues he by no means did whereas chasing a significant championship: He performed a apply run along with his son Charlie the week earlier than. He tousled a gaggle message with Justin Thomas and husbands. The gang admitted between the holes. Gently chat along with his playmates. He even laughed as he answered reporters’ questions after every spherical. The icy glow disappeared, and the thousand-yard stares. Even within the midst of competitors, he could not resist smiling.
“It has been a troublesome street, and I am so grateful to have the chance to have the ability to get by way of it,” Woods stated. “Loads of various things may have occurred, however for 14 months I can play within the Masters…This event has meant lots to me and my household.”
As he limped towards the sixteenth inexperienced on Sunday, the place the place he dominated the 2019 Masters with an exciting birdie, you could not inform from the look on his face that he was headed for forty seventh, his lowest as a birdie. Masters professionals. Woods began to smile because the shepherds rose to their toes to bathe him with affection, he and John Ram taking their time to get to the inexperienced. CBS introduced again Woods’ dramatic foil re-run from 2005, however for the primary time, a brief detour into the previous, even when it meant seeing Woods at his finest, appeared much less thrilling than the current.
Woods could not cease smiling as his roar started to swell. He flipped his hat a number of instances, wanting nearly shy as he fastened his ball marker. When he ran to knockout the chook over the opening, he responded not in disgust however in bewilderment, and waved to the gang as soon as extra after making a tie. It was a model of Tiger Woods’ sixteenth gap on the Augusta Nationwide I might by no means seen earlier than, and there was one thing particular about that, too.
“It is actually cool,” Ram stated. “It was actually cool as a result of no one cared about me, so I used to be watching him play. He was simply one other spectator.”
As Woods and Ram have been ending their last spherical, Scotty Scheffler was cruising for his coronation. Woods’ affect on Schaeffler couldn’t be missed, whilst he ran off with the championship.
“I performed Tiger’s iron, I put his footwear on, I wore his shirt this week,” stated the 25-year-old, the first-time winner. “Tiger on the golf course is ridiculous. He is completed a lot for golf. We’re so glad he is again right here.”
No person, not even Tiger Woods, is aware of what sort of golf we’ll see from him sooner or later. He stated after his tour that he plans to play within the Open Championship in July at The Outdated Course in St Andrews.
“That is one thing shut and expensive to my coronary heart,” Woods stated. “I’ve received the opening twice there. It is the house of golf and it is my favourite course on the planet. I will be there for it.”
Furthermore, he made no commitments besides that he vowed to strengthen his leg. He was approaching his future in golf one ice bathtub at a time. He appears to comprehend, now greater than ever, that he’ll at all times be the ship of many individuals’s hopes, and that he’s one thing larger than him each time he performs golf at a significant event. However it’s honest to say that Tiger Woods is extra at peace with this burden than he has ever been.
He does not have to dominate the world of golf to be glad or really feel full. Not anymore. However he’d wish to maintain enjoying anyway. He desires to savor all that he has left, and watching him limping his approach round Augusta this weekend, posing for pictures, dripping in strokes and smiling as if grateful to only stroll once more, you could not assist however need the identical.
