Photo By: Keith Allison
To state the obvious Tiger Woods’ career is in limbo. After 18 plus months of turmoil in his private and professional life, the second greatest golfer ever is in critical condition both physically and mentally. First, the exposure of his private life resulted in his divorce from Elin Nordegren, which in turn led to the obvious deterioration in Woods’ mental prowess on the golf course in 2010. Second, Tiger’s injury to his knee at Augusta this year, a Grade 1 mild MCL sprain to his left knee and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon, prevented Woods from playing in the U.S. Open and in his own tournament, the AT&T National, this weekend. Woods says he will return to the game when his body is physically fit enough to handle the stress his golf swing, but it remains uncertain whether or not Tiger will be ready for the British Open, the PGA Championship or any other tournament this season. Thus analysts and commentators have been left to speculate as to what the future holds for the once immortal Woods and it is entirely possible that Tiger himself is uncertain of how his career will finish.
At this point the pressure that Woods must be feeling to not only win another major, but simply contend at any PGA tournament must be a tremendous weight on the golfer’s shoulders. In fact it’s more likely become the two ton elephant in the corner. Growing up Tiger made it his life’s goal to best Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors and become the greatest golfer the world has ever known…not the second greatest. Certainly Tiger’s premature attempt to return from his latest knee injury and play in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in May speaks to the outside and personal pressures Woods is feeling.
Woods sense of urgency to return to golf is understandable. Since returning to the game in 2010, Tiger has shown only that he is mortal and lacking the ability to close out tournaments like he once possessed. Even though his desire to prove himself must be incredible (after winning the 2008 U.S. Open, who would have ever thought those words would ever be uttered about Woods?), the last thing Tiger should be doing Continue reading
