If this was an Elton John song, it might go something like, this is “no way for a good man to go down.” We’re not talking about Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters here, we’re talking about Tiger Woods.
Perhaps you saw some of the 43 holes he played at 9-over par at the fractured Masters Tournament last week, saw the limp, saw the pained expressions. Or perhaps you heard the news Sunday morning that he had withdrawn with a plantar fasciitis issue, the same issue that led to withdrawal from his own tournament last November.
Perhaps you heard him discuss Thursday’s 74 at Augusta National, the part where he admitted he was in constant pain, where he isn’t sure how many more of these reverent rodeos he will be able to attend. On that same ideal day for scoring, 44 players shot par-72 or better.
As it turned out, Woods made the cut for the 23rd consecutive time, which tied a record he shares with Fred Couples and Gary Player. But he did not accomplish that feat by way of clutch shot-making or dogged pursuit. He made the number due to some late round bogey work by Justin Thomas. The cutline came to Woods, not vice-versa.
And while Woods might never acknowledge as much, making the cut was like drawing a short straw. When nasty weather moved in on Friday, it meant the ensuing days at Augusta would be forbidding, fractured and extra long.
Through his first seven completed holes of the third round on Saturday, Woods was last among the 54 players who made the cut, 22 shots off the lead. As the tournament headed to Sunday, he faced the prospect of completing the eighth hole of this third round, then walking 28 more to close the championship. He pulled the plug.
Tiger Woods’ long road back to being competitive
After the terrible injuries he suffered in a car crash in February 2021, Woods went 508 days without playing competitive golf. Then, when he returned to Augusta last April, he walked on water. He opened the championship with a 1-under 71, just four shots off the lead. People were hyperventilating.
The next day came a 74, followed by a windy, chilly weekend and three putts aplenty. A 78 on Saturday was his worst ever at Augusta, and a 78 on Sunday matched it. In the end, the egg salad wishes and green jacket dreams disappeared in a pile of three-putts. Woods settled at 47th, his worst finish in the Masters as a pro.
As he travels his grueling rehabilitation road, Woods has indicated the car-crash damage to his right leg, foot and ankle make competing in ordinary PGA Tour events problematic. His hope is to be physically able to pick his poison and play in the major championships, while emphasizing he will only participate in said events if he feels he can compete.
“I have not come around to the idea of being (a ceremonial golfer),” he said at the Genesis Invitational in February. “If I’m playing in the event, I’m going to try and beat you. I’m there to get a W.”
Woods is tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour career wins (82), remains three shy of Jack Nicklaus’ record for career major championships (18), and one short of Nicklaus’ record six Masters titles. So it’s safe to assume Woods meant “wins” with “W” reference, not “withdrawals.”
But here’s the thing: In his last five majors, the man who once won all four majors in a row has these finishes: missed cut, 47th, withdrawal, missed cut and withdrawal. Since Woods’ Masters miracle of 2019, he has played in 10 majors, with six missed cuts or withdrawals and a best finish of T21 at the 2019 U.S. Open.
Not to be judgmental, not to disrespect, but when you put it all together what does it spell? Did someone say “ceremonial?”
Far be it from a high-handicap writer or even close advisor to know what Woods feels, physically or emotionally, or suggest what he should do. In a sport where 52-year old Phil Mickelson can go dark for nearly two years and then finish second at this same Masters, conclusions are always dangerous.
On the other hand, if you’re one of his sponsors, is this the bang you had in mind for your buck? Is the Tiger Woods brand built on an also-ran platform? And if you’re just a fan, do you want him to push the pain envelope and endure sub-standard performances for your viewing pleasure?
Arnold Palmer was willing to miss cuts in his last 23 major championships, and 35 of his last 38. But “Arnie” wasn’t a physical wreck. He was a man of the people and as he surrendered to time, he needed his army as much as they needed him. Nicklaus had MCs in his last eight majors, more specifically his last four Masters. Even the “Golden Bear” needed some time to accept that his age and his chronic hip would not allow for more glory.
Tiger Woods is 47 years old. Between the numerous surgeries and reconstructions, Humpty Dumpty had fewer scars. Yes, he has made several remarkable comebacks. When he won at Augusta in 2019 at the age of 43, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recorded a record amount of crow being eaten.
‘No way for a good man to go down’
But this is Tiger Woods, folks, the guy who changed everything. This is one of the greatest to ever take a divot. This is a player who has influenced countless players and numerous nationalities. But this also is beginning to look like Willie Mays playing center field for the Mets, or Muhammad Ali going 10 rounds with Trevor Berbick.
This is no way for a good man to go down.
You want Woods to have his walk up the 18th fairway at Augusta, like Arnie had, like Jack. Certainly, he deserves that, as a cherished champion, not a limping formality. Likewise, he has the right to a proper Swilcan Bridge send off at St. Andrews, where he has won two of his three British Opens.
The championship won’t return to the home of golf until 2027. That said, if Tom Watson can all but win the Open at age 59, who’s to say what a 51-year old Tiger Woods might do? St. Andrews is much more user-friendly for a walking player than Augusta, even though Woods missed the cut there last summer.
Woods has made it clear he has no interest in using a cart to compete on the PGA TOUR, and he is still three seasons removed from qualifying for a ride on the Champions. So where are we?
Early last week, Woods reflected on as much. “Yeah, I don’t know how many more I have in me,” he said. “So, just to be able to appreciate the time that I have here and cherish the memories …”
At this point you have to wonder if he has any left in him, if those cherished memories aren’t being tarnished. And you have to wonder when enough is enough.
Dan O’Neill writes columns for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter at @WWDOD