The lightning in a bottle moment
Tiger Woods caught lightning in a bottle when he won The Masters in 2019. It was a moment of brilliance that reminded us of his past greatness. But let’s face it: beyond that win, his contributions to golf have been little more than analysts distracting viewers with idle commentary about his buff body and chronic injuries.
Notably, The Masters account for 5 of his 14 majors. So, it speaks volumes that my three most recent commentaries about his participation in this tournament are as follows:
- “The Masters Is All About Tiger Who Can’t Win” on April 6, 2023,
- “Tiger Woods Withdraws from The Masters” on April 10, 2023, and
- “The Masters: Tiger Woods Posts the Worst Score of His Career” on April 16, 2024.
Spectacle of the has-been legend
Woods had plenty of chances. But, like so many other tournaments, his appearance in this latest major championship was cut short. He posted a 3-over 73 on Friday, which dropped him to 7-over on the week. That was several shots outside the projected cut line at Pinehurst No. 2.
I cannot overstate that Woods has missed the cut or withdrawn from six of the last eight major championships. Talk about the writing on the wall!
Participation praise and blissful mediocrity
Sadly, Woods has become so irrelevant on the course that analysts are catching themselves throwing participation praise like, “Oh yes, Tiger Woods, at least he didn’t come in last.” Yes, folks, it has come to this: celebrating Tiger Woods for not being dead last?
Even so, Woods seems perfectly happy to remain on Tour, making excuses for poor play while basking in his fading glory. It’s as if he’s convinced himself that just showing up is enough.
And that might be for sponsors trying to milk his fame dry. He’s still the most popular player on the Tour by far. But for those of us who remember his dominance, his poor play is painful to watch.
Time to retire
I’ve been arguing for years that Woods should retire, not just to stop humiliating himself but to preserve what remains of the awe, respect, and admiration his legacy evokes. Every missed cut or withdrawal chips away at that legacy. Pretty soon, viewers will forget the significance of the iconic red shirt he always wore on final rounds.
I want to remember him for his greatness. Unfortunately, Woods seems hell-bent on playing out his career in the same pitiful way legends like Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan did.
This is why I shall reiterate my contention: Tiger is becoming to PGA players what Hugh Hefner became to LA players — the most popular guy in the game who everyone knows can’t do it anymore.