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Thursday, August 16, 2018

Was Tiger Wood's 2nd place finish at the P.G.A Championship a sign of a Tiger Resurrection?




August 15, 2018

Tiger Woods finished second at the P.G.A Championship this past weekend.  It was a stunning performance for golf's greatest showman and performer.
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For the first time since his scandal-plagued year of recuperating from an injury and public shaming of his wife ( through the disclosure of multiple instances of cheating on his wife), Tiger Woods has captured the golf, and sports world once again through his great run at the P.G.A Championship in St. Louis this past weekend.  Since his record-breaking run to win his first Masters in 1997, Tiger was the most dominant golfer since Jack Nicklaus ruled the P.G.A in the 70's and 80's.  During his previous reign, Tiger amassed millions in endorsements, career earnings, and tour wins, which included 14 major tournament trophies (Masters, British Open, U.S. Open and P.G.A Championship). His success and visibility was the reason many around the world took up golf, a sport played in country clubs by upper-class individuals, and a small percentage of the country who played on public courses.

He was the global athlete who made the most in endorsements, was a cultural phenomenon, and made sure no matter if you were a golf fan, you would turn to the final day of any golf tournament to see if Tiger would cruise to another victory.  Tiger was the single reason that the casual sports fan paid attention to golf, attended tournaments or watched on television.   He was was so dominant on the P.G.A Tour, his fellow golfers who were leading on the final day would wilt under pressure as the roar of the gallery supporting Tiger could be heard. Mr. Woods eventually closed the gap on anyone who had a fragile lead heading into the final 18 holes.  That was the power and mystique of Tiger Woods.

So, with the recently concluded P.G.A Championship at Bellerive Country Club, just outside St. Louis, the golf and sports world was electric with Tiger's completion to the runner-up position to (and current reigning U.S. Open champ) Brooks Koepka.  Many were wondering if the long-dormant Tiger was beginning his comeback to the top of the sports world again.  He shot a final round of 64, bringing along a large gallery of fans hoping to see Woods rise from the ashes of mediocrity and his physical ailments to inspire once again.

His recent form, including at the 2018 U.S. Open, begs the question.  Is this the old Tiger Woods who has found his dominant form and intimidating presence on the P.G.A Tour the past few weeks? Or, was this magnificent run a last-gasp at glory before he rides off into the sunset of his post-career, most likely in business ventures and golf course design?  Sports, but golf especially, needs him to regain his luster, for at least a few more years.  Golf needs to make a financial recovery since the last few years has seen Nike get rid of its golf division, and many public courses have closed due to a drop in interest.  If this was the last hurrah before he permanently fades away, it does give his fans an opportunity to be wistful about Tiger's greatness as a performer.  As Colin Cowherd stated on his radio show about Tiger Woods, "Tiger doesn't move the needle...he is the needle."  He gave the sport of golf its greatest reason for relevance during his reign as the world's best golfer.   The sport will eventually recede back to its pre-Tiger levels once Woods fades from the public eye.  That is why I, like most sports fans, want to see Tiger roar one last time.  




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