There is nothing sadder to watch on the sporting field than a once great champion trying to relive their glory days when it is clear that the game – or their aging body – has passed them by. Occasionally, such as last year when Roger Federer rebounded from a disappointing 2013 to win more matches in 2014 than any other player, they prove us wrong. But such fairytales are rare.
A little over a week ago, golf’s former world number one Tiger Woods shot a career-worst 11-over par to miss the cut at the Phoenix Open playing the sort of golf more familiar to your casual weekend hacker. Last week he tried again at Torrey Pines but withdrew midway through his opening round following complications most likely attributable to the back injury that has plagued him in recent times. It was the third time in eight starts he has withdrawn through injury.
Last year we wrote that Tiger Woods might never win another major given how far his game has fallen since details of his extra-marital pursuits became public in late 2009. Sadly, the question now is not so much whether he can win a major but can he even compete at this level anymore? Is this the beginning of the end?
Woods has fought hard to get his body right over the past few years and no doubt he will continue to do so, but there is only so long he can carry on limping his way around the course, missing cuts and watching trophy presentations from a distance.
The 39-year-old can still draw a crowd – when he pulled out of Torrey Pines last week it was reported the crowd following he and playing partners Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler dropped from 500 to 50 in an instant. But does Woods want to become little more than the tour sideshow, much like John Daly before him? And what damage will he do to his legacy by ignoring the obvious?
Time will tell, but it’s likely the end is drawing near for this once in a generation player.
