Tiger Woods is BACK! (Kind of)
TIGER WOODS IS BACK BABY!!
Well, he's kind of back. I mean, he's playing golf again. Kind of playing... he showed up and missed the cut. That has to mean something for the former world #1 golfer in the world... right?
Last week, Woods made his first official PGA Tour start in well over a year in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, familiar grounds for Tiger. Things did not go well, as he shot 76-72 and missed the cut, finishing an ugly 4-over par for the week. The hype surrounding him certainly died down after that disappointing showing, but not all hope is lost. Woods plays in the upcoming tournament in Dubai, a place where he has played well before.
What Can We Expect from Tiger in 2017?
No one really knows what to expect from Woods anymore. The most recent stage of his career has been full of inconsistency and injury, while also having many bright spots. Many believe catching Jack's 18 majors is a pipe dream at this point- and however unlikely it is he'll get to 18, he absolutely has a couple more left in the tank. After all, we're talking about a guy who was one of the most dominant athletes that any sport has ever seen. He straight up dominated. No one could touch him. Now, I believe some of that had to do with the competition he face. While he did face stiff competition (Phil, VJ) then, the competition he faces now is a daunting task, especially considering his age compared to some of the game's emerging superstars (Rory, Jordan, Jason, Dustin).
With that being said, do not count Tiger out. Here's why:
Woods: 2010-2011: 23 starts, 0 wins, 10 Top 25's, 87 Average FedEx Cup finish
Woods: 2012-2013: 35 starts, 8 wins, 23 Top 25's, 2.5 Average FedEx Cup finish
Why do those numbers matter? Because last time Tiger had two terrible, injury filled years in a row, everything said he was done. He responded by going on a tear the next two years. Now, I know he hasn't been good for THREE years, but last year was a complete wash due to injury. If you want to say that his injuries are the main reason he can't come back from this prolonged slump, you have a fair point, but all that talent does not just disappear. If you want to say that his age is a reason he won't play well (ever?) again, just look at these numbers:
Phil Mickelson, age 45! season: 22 starts, 0 wins (3 seconds), 13 top 25's, 16th place FedEx Cup Finish
What does this prove? It proves that there is success to be had for the old man on today's young-gun studded tour. There are tournaments to be won and majors to be contested. After all, Tiger did dominate the sport for a little north of a decade, and its not like other sports where a 41 year old man is ancient. Tiger Woods' career is NOT OVER, I repeat, its NOT OVER.
Prediction for Tiger in 2017?
Since starting to write for SouthSide sports, my predictions have been spot on. So do I really want to risk a near perfect record trying to project what Tiger is going to do in 2017? No. But i'm going to anyway. I see his season looking something like this:
Woods, 2017: 12-14 starts, 1 win, 7 top 25's, top 50 finish in FedEx Cup
I wish those numbers could be a lot higher, but I think he has a fairly average year this year and has an unexpected good year next season. Don't set the bar too high, but don't be surprised if he competes a bit this year. I could see a strong showing at Augusta and The Open, and maybe a win at a tourney like the Arnold Palmer Invitation or Memorial Tournament. Either way, I'm just glad we get to watch him play golf again.