He's back on the top of the pedestal. There is nowhere to go but down. He is a flawed human being, just like the rest of us, and he deserves our prayers that he can handle this. He has gone through hell. Some of it has been self induced, but if anyone knows the debilitating pain and suffering of severe back pain, then you can identify with the things that he had no control over. He can share his amazing talent with the world, that it worth a lot. Yesterday was full of joy for millions of people around the world.
September 24, 2018
TW surely greatly admired to solidify his being on all levels - that gives great respect to his efforts to preform with the grace and maturity of a very successful person. And in this era of Donald Trump it may be that they should have some Golf time to share the making of the best of the best of winners in America and on the planet.
jja
1
Tiger may have come back in his golf ability, but has he "come back" in terms of character? It will be interesting to see how the man who could never seem to miss a random "hook-up" with a woman other than his wife is treated in this #MeToo environment.
1
This is like Mozart didn't die.. instead he pulled himself together and now there is more music forthcoming. A definite boost.
2
And who cares. Still is and will forever be an arrogant jerk.
1
Tiger has not been my favorite golfer in the past, probably because of his demeanor both on and off the course. Did I respect his ability and determination? You bet. But for personality, Phil Mickelson was always more fun to watch and his interaction with the crowd seemed real. Plus I liked the way he didn't make excuses when shots went astray. That said, I can pull for Tiger to continue to play well. His mood on and off the course have improved. He can be seen smiling. And, as he has often said,he may lose, but it won't be because someone worked harder than he did. As many did, I pretty much had him written off after all the surgeries. He has now shown why he should be considered among the greatest of all time.
2
I'm 20 years older than Tiger. I went to the same Junior High School. I was a practicing doctor for 30 years. I played golf for many years. A large part of my family has attended Stanford. I remember Tiger all the way back to the days on Johnny Carson. Most importantly, I have suffered the same debilitating back problems he has. It forced me to stop practicing. I've had many of the same procedures he has. I've had the same thoughts about what the rest of my life would be like. They take you to a very dark and unpleasant place. I've done countless things to contend with the Pain and Disability. It said, empathy is much more powerful than sympathy... No truer words have ever been spoken. Unless you have experienced the excruciating pain, that comes with this type of back problem, you can't truly appreciate the extraordinary nature of what Tiger has been able to accomplish! I have seen hundreds of golf tournaments both on television and up close. This is the first time that I have been brought to tears. One of the greatest comebacks in sports history... Absolutely!
I look forward to watching with great anticipation. The Ryder Cup, the Masters and so much more. Most importantly, the struggle of one human being to overcome soul stealing pain and Triumph again! A reason to smile.
For those of us who are members of a club, nobody wants to be a member of, Tiger gives us all hope and the belief that maybe, tomorrow will be a better day!
11
Those who write negative comments about Woods in this comments section are way off the mark, imo. Can't you just celebrate the extraordinary comeback. Those who follow golf are fully aware that Justin Rose won the FedEx Cup and the $10M, a great achievement. And, we also know that Koepka should be getting the Vardon Trophy for the two majors. Can't people just look at the positive for a change and stop the ceaseless, negative drivel. This point extends to any discussion of just about anything in this country anymore. A bunch of whiners and complainers.
11
Perhaps if the Tiger returns to the "Pinnacle" he will act like a true champion and not the arrogant winner and disgusting person he was the last time he was on top.
3
see what you want to see. he would not have won against a full field. the "comeback story" has been exhausting to hear all season long. tiger woods was a great player. he is the golden goose. he allows everyone in the sport and the media who cover it to earn a lot of money. the sycophantic fawning though has been tough to stomach all season. all those "golf fans" who tune out if tiger is not in contention are not fans of the game. they are just front-runners. catering to them is ruining the events for the rest of us.
2
Congrats tiger ! Did anyone know if Serena Williams was there to witness this huge sport come back! Please let me know ! Thank you!
1
I am absolutely thrilled for Tiger Woods...and I don't even follow golf.
It's clear Tiger has worked hard, not only on his golf game and his physical health...but on his emotional maturity and well-being in order to make this extraordinary comeback possible.
Cook points out, Tiger is “one of the most mentally tough golfers of all time.” Indeed he is. However, in significant ways it was that mental toughness instilled in him by his Green Beret father that led to his lack of ability to create an emotionally healthy personal life…which then led to his out of control sex life.
As a personal & professional development coach I’ve worked w/many men over the years for whom this is the pattern; the pressure to be “mentally tough,” to the neglect of their emotional well-being causes them to make less than ideal choices regarding their sexuality.
Just look at the choices of former President Bill Clinton, a brilliant, well-educated, gifted leader. I would assert the lack of emotional fulfillment in his life led to his less than wise choices, just as they did with Tiger Woods. The #MeToo movement is rife with this same pattern.
Men do not need to be more like women. However, men do, in their own unique ways, need emotional connection and fulfillment.
Though it has been a long, tough road, that’s precisely what Tiger has found…the balance of mental toughness and emotional fulfillment…and humility.
God bless him. He is a powerful role model for men who seek…to become more.
6
For anyone who has ever fallen personally or professionally or both, this is how you get back up again. one step at a time. There is no substitute for dogged determination in life. the pure desire not to fail
2
Was Serena Williams there to witness this huge comeback in sports history ? Wow tiger, well done!
How many women did he cheat on his wife with? All I can find are numbers ranging from 8 to “more than a dozen?”
And why exactly does this get a pass? I am astonished that he’s being given so much media coverage after tearing his family apart with his selfishness, his disregard for his wife’s health and safety, and his disregard for his children’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
This “comeback” is a terrible lesson for future generations. I am horrified.
2
If Mr. Wood had comeback from some awful accident or illness or personal tragedy that befell him, I could understand people's joy at his win yesterday. I think he showed the content of his character when the lid was blown off his marriage and it's pretty godawful. Perhaps the $1B+ he has earned from this game could be put to use fighting sex trafficking.
2
he's human. he has faults, as we all have. he is the golfer that galvanizes fans. congratulations, tiger, it is so good to have you back in the winner's circle. keep practising (sic), stay healthy, and happy, and play more tournaments in 2019!
2
After the win, I felt the need to go back and revisit Robin Williams on Tiger Woods. Reminds me how great the both are (were).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzv6EhE7Cbo
1
Tiger, who?
The Tiger Woods that I grew to enjoy and adore died years ago. The amount of forgiveness, and second (third and fourth) chances that we as a society continue to give to men, simply because they have unique athletic abilities, is truly repugnant. He does not deserve your admiration or praise.
4
Wonder if someone in Hollywood is considering writing a movie script right now? If not, they should be. I had written him off after the trouble he had four or five years ago. By contrast, I was almost in a trance watching him play yesterday, given what he's been through. The adoration of the fans was pretty much over the top. And he was more emotional than I've ever seen him, but he had every right to be. This kind of story in sports is pretty rare these days.
1
@vote
Four or five years ago? His probation ended this month.
Hat's off to excellent journalism by Karen Crouse - she captured perfectly the building excitement, the conflicted feelings, the groundswell of support for an American icon without even a hint of the saccharine that normally accompanies these championship pieces. She let Tiger Woods be Tiger Woods after an extraordinary event. Well done.
4
Federer's re-resurgence was much more impressive - in a much much much more physically demanding sport.
1
@BJHThe torque Woods placed shot after shot on his body is really astonishing. Tennis is demanding in other ways. The way Tiger plays Golf, it is a very demanding sport.
2
@bruce Very true. But it's still golf. I think more amazing - maybe the most amazing thing I've ever seen - is what Tom Watson did at the 2009 British Open at FIFTY NINE.
Both are impressive. The difference is Tiger is yet to win a “major” in his comeback, Fed has won 3. Give Tiger some time.
i have never played a single hole of golf (other than "miniature golf"). I very seldom watch golf on TV; I can't remember the last time I did. I have little or no interest in golf as a sport.
But I watched yesterday, specifically because Tiger Woods had a chance to win. Why? Because he is a cultural icon. It was an enjoyable "human interest" story and a major sporting achievement.
10
My partner is an avid golfer and we both watch golf tournaments on TV. To all the naysayers - you don't get it. It is all about the comeback story and Tiger's slog through a five year drought. Americans love a comeback story - look at the gallery and the press is there because they know how popular he is! It is simply amazing that despite his fall from grace and the competition, he commands a loyal following because we know he is the greatest. He embodies a work ethic that is admirable and he doesn't give up. Also think his stature as one of if not the greatest golfer and his apolitical position are also what his fans like. We admire him as a golfer - not as husband and father of the year. Let's keep that straight - the haters who throw that are in are mixing apples and oranges. He really is a Tiger.
8
Great comeback story. No doubt.
But even eliminating his personal life, his conduct on the links caused me to root against him. Tiger was a notoriously, foul-mouthed, bad sport.
His struggles may have changed him. I hope so. Because it is a good comeback story.
1
Not to be a hater, but I'm a bit surprised by the wall-to-wall coverage this is getting across the internet. A once-dominant player secures a big tournament win after years of personal and physical challenges? Good for him but I fail to see how this deserves multiple articles on so many news sites.
2
@T Montoya You're being a hater.
This is a classic story about someone who happens to be a history-making figure in the sport.
Woods' story deserves to be everywhere in the media -- because he earned his way back to the top. It wasn't handed to him, it wasn't pre-ordained, and he'd lost a lot of public goodwill.
What would you rather read? Stories about Washington's many scandals?
I'll take this story of redemption any day.
3
Woods comeback deserves applause, yes, but to call this 'remarkable' after week after week of golf articles headlined by his small steps in an arduous recovery - all while almost ignoring a new generation of players - well, perhaps the golf press could remark on this story a bit less.
That Woods has the improved health to be able to play often in the long golf season is impressive.
Is he likely to contend in numerous tournaments like the Tiger of old? No.
Will breathless headlines and articles be written every time he is within ten slots of the lead before donning a red shirt on Sunday's? Yes.
Will TV audiences increase if he is in contention - perhaps because he appears on camera almost every moment he is on the course, every weekend, regardless of his standing in a tournament? Sure.
And will the lost generation of golfers - the post-Tiger ignoreds - fall further down the rabbit hole?
I think so. Lucky for fans that maybe Woods will move to the Senior Tour someday.
4
@Barry
Maybe in like 8 years when he is qualified for the Senior Tour.
Good for him that he is healthy and won a golf tournament. While it won't win him back the respect of his children or former wife, good for Tiger. He won a golf tournament. Did this warrant two full pages of today's Sports section? No.
The bigger story is one of utterly misplaced hero worship. The ramifications of which are much larger than over-hyping a golfer in twilight. Look around.
14
@MHW
Did his win warrant you bringing up so much ugliness? No, it did not. You choose to focus on the past.
Tiger, like every person who fails at some point in life, paid for his actions. If you don't like the amount of coverage in the paper, that's your (limited) view, I enjoyed reading every word.
3
@MHW He is the greatest golfer of all time. What ramifications are you speaking of?
This a rare moment of a mental and physical come back that an ordinary sports pro would not be able to emulate.
This warranted more pages outside the Sports section. This is bigger than just the sport.
3
I am tired of all the unjustified coverage that this guy gets. This time he won so he deserves coverage but even when he loses he gets more coverage than the winners who we can usually not even name.
What is so alluring about this guy?
10
@MIKEinNYC He is the greatest golfer of all time.
This a rare moment of a mental and physical come back that an ordinary sports pro would not be able to emulate.
A 42-year-old guy competing and beating 20 somethings is amazing in any sport, enjoy it while it lasts.
20
@MIKEinNYC
As Jordan said, quite possibly the greatest golfer ever.
And: there's no team. It's just one person ( and their caddy) out there. There are no algorithms to apply to decide how to play, no substitutes. There's no one else to hold responsible for your game but you. Any miscalculation mishit or meltdown in focus is on you.
This is kinda-sorta like pitching a no hitter at the same age.
6
@MIKEinNYChe is the only golfer who can bring in the casual sports fan to watch golf.
Agree with your sentiment, as a golfer, I would like the others to get more coverage, but Tiger is the one who brings the money pouring in.
Happens in other sports too, my other favorite sport - tennis , Maria Sharapova got so much undeserved coverage. At least Tiger is an all time great, Sharapova ???
Apart from a few human failings along the way, Tiger is back! And that's what we want to see and all that matters. Too bad it's not that simple for Judge Kavanaugh.
4
Uh, did anyone notice that at the same tournament yesterday British golfer Justin Rose - ranked number one in the world - won the "Fedex Cup" along with $10 million ?
8
@Ed Yes, we noticed. And we noticed who finished as runner up. Not that it's a great title/format, but it drives a superb field of golfers for three weeks in SEP that was absent in years past.
5
@IMPROV
Didn't seem as if NYT noticed !
Headline: "After 5 Painful Years, Woods Returns to Golf’s Pinnacle"
Pinnacle? Wouldn't that be #1? He's ranked #13.
3
@Sixofone Yesterday's final round was the highest rated golf tournament of the year; people weren't tuning in to see #1 thru 12.
12
Being an historian and big sports fan I was wishing and hoping for a great event, featuring The Man, of course. Watching the final hole and the huge outpouring of adoring fans seeing a great event and then soaring in a paroxysm of orgasmic effusion, rushing en masse up the final fairway shouting joy reminded me of 1927 when our Lone Eagle landed in Paris at Le Bourget Field, having crossed the Atlantic solo and the adoring multitude rushed to surround The Man in adulation. It happened in 1927 and again on last Sunday, It may even happen again over the next 91 years, or maybe not.
6
@roger duncan Are you really comparing a golf tournament to Lindbergh's flight? Can't see it.
2
The goal of sports is to win. Why else would one play? It's purpose is far greater. What does effort, dedication, style, and response to both success and failure say about one's character? Hopefully, it helps to build that person's self.
Tiger arrived full-formed, utterly brilliant. He was a gorgeous bright star. Then he fell into the blackest of holes. Despite intense travail he worked his way back. He has demonstrated that he is not a wunderkind. He is a hard working still growing man.
A tip of the hat, Mr. Woods.
28
@Robert amen
To me you will be the greatest no matter how hard you fall you always get up and get going . I thank you for that. Congrats on a beautiful win and best of all good Luck next week God Bless
9
Congratulations to all his physicians! They deserve credit as well!
14
Yes! His doctors deserve enormous credit. Remember this-
No matter how talented we are, if our patient doesn't give their best effort, then one cannot expect optimal results. If all of our patients put in the work and dedication that Tiger does, we would be significantly more successful. It's a partnership.
Many forget that. Tiger makes us look great, too!
Good Job, Mr. Woods. Comebacks, particularly in the same sport one dominated for so long, are difficult.
Congratulations!
9
Once all those revelations came out about his life, I immediately knew two things.
One, it would take him years to win another tournament.
And two, the odds are overwhelming that he'll never win another major.
2
@Joe
He came close to winning two majors this year: the Open and PGA.
5
Congrats, Tiger.
There are those who choose to focus on your past foibles, and who relish in your fall from grace. Many of us, however, choose to look at who you are and what you have to offer the game.
Your tenacity and drive to regain the top tier of a grueling and (yes) tough sport is a credit to you, sir, and an inspiration to the rest of us who enjoy the game.
16
I loved it and watched all day (with switches to see how the Dolphins were doing). It's a great story. He made some great shots. I played golf a few years when I was young, and when he landed green shots consistently within ten feet of the flag, I laughed because although I landed a few shots like that, I could never do it consistently. His performance was amazing. And when the crowd chased him and cheered him on the 18th green, I applauded with them to see Tiger back again. I am happy for him. I will pull for him all next year to do win more.
14
Justin Rose, number one in the world rankings, won the Fed Ex Cup and the $10 million purse. He needed a birdie on the final hole, which he delivered. America's desperate need of hero worship renders that accomplishment invisible. Behold, the mighty Tiger Woods won a golf tournament. The man is a serial philanderer, a man who thought nothing of getting behind the wheel of a car while abusing an entire shopping list of drugs, someone universally acknowledged to be a...what's the polite way of saying "opposite of nice" person.
Is it any wonder that millions of Americans are beside themselves in rapturous awe? I mean, a guy who has made hundreds of millions of dollars hitting a ball around beautifully manicured properties just won a limited field golf tournament. All that other stuff is just inconsequential noise. Don't you understand, he WON! It certainly puts Donald Trump's presidency in perspective.
17
@Rob "A limited field"? Only the top 30 players of the season. You prefer to focus on the negative of the mistakes he made in the past rather than his successful efforts to redeem himself.
14
@Rob
Sir, there is no "desperate need of hero worship" at play here. One can congratulate both men for performing well at their game.
Divisiveness, like hatred, is a choice.
1
I am glad that you have not suffered so much pain in your life. Tiger was able to climb out of the "bunker". by the way, he almost won the FedEx too.
you must not be a golfer.
1
Wonderful story. "Returns to golf's pnnacle" -- well, thats an exaggeration but lets hope it is only premature.
1
@joelibacsi
Not much of an exaggeration. The only reason that Tiger Woods is not ranked number one in the Official World Golf Rankings is that the formula penalizes players who have competed in fewer than 40 events in the last two years. If Tiger's total points were divided by the 22 events he has actually played in instead of by the minimum of 40, he would be number one.
6
@Dink Singer
And "IF" the rankings were done otherwise, I would be at the top....
But I'm not, and you're not. The rankings were not changed to favor one particular player, sir, nor have they been adjusted to penalize anyone.
The rules of Golf and its subsequent techniques for ranking players are just that: The Rules.
1
@Paul P.
The rules are the rules but they are changed all the time. Under next year's Tour Championship rules, Rose would have won the tournament at 15 under par while Woods would have been tied for second with Billy Horschel and Dustin Johnson at 13 under par.
They are not changed for the benefit of one particular player but they are manipulated to increase the income of the business. The provision of the Official World Golf Rankings that penalizes players for not playing in at least 40 tournaments over the previous two years serves that purpose. Top players have to show up at tournaments they otherwise would skip just to keep their rankings up. The rules also reward players who enter tournaments frequently with a maximum divisor of 52. For example, Patrick Reed who participated in 62 events over the last two years would be ranked around 22nd instead of 15th if they did not have that rule.
Tiger Woods is back and that was awesome to watch. Just watching the crowd join on the 18th fairway when Tiger and Rory were walking down just brought back memories of all of the unbelievable Sunday wins he had in his prime. Smart thinking by Rory to just run ahead of Tiger and leave the crowd to Tiger alone.
Despite all of the mistakes he made in his personal life, to see an athlete who went from top to the bottom due to back health issues and personal issues and be back at the top winning against Rory and Rose and the best in the world is just such a great accomplishment. Look forward to the majors next year.
While I rejoiced in his comeback, I will still never be able to root for Tiger the same way as before. His marital cheating and personal mistakes definitely affected my enthusiastic support for the role model that he once was.
11
@Matt
So Walter Hagen was an angel? Same with Ray Floyd? You need to learn some golf history.....
2
@Matt - Here's to hoping he'll complete his journey by one day openly discussing and admitting to his faults and his downfall - to put it all out there and to show through his words and actions that he's transformed himself and is worthy of admiration and praise. He could do that. We can hope.
Now that would be a story for the ages. Let's see where Tiger takes his life. The final chapters have not been written.
4
There is no sport like golf and there is surely no other golfer like Tiger. I am not convinced this is a comeback of epic standards - yet - but I sure hope so.
8
All the golfers at our course screamed in unison yesterday during play, as they had an iPhone in one hand and a club in the other. I didn't but I knew what had happened: Tiger had won No. 80! Golf and back, hip, knee pain go together like apples and pie. The folks could feel his pain, literally, and his moment of victory was their time to celebrate.
13
Tiger is a once in a lifetime phenomenon. One apparent key in yesterday’s victory was going back to his old, trusty Scotty Cameron putter......proof once again that you should never throw away old golf clubs, no matter what your spouse tells you. Do you think my wife will buy that?
14
@Concerned MD Heheh if only! I still have my first golf club, an old, beaten up 7-iron blade which makes hitting a ball even the slightest bit off center feel like being tased. It was given to me by the old club pro ("this club will teach you!") when I started as a boy. I had it reshafted and still hit it on the driving range sometimes out of nostalgia.
4
As a double-digit handicapper, I'm only partially familiar with what I was watching on the TV yesterday. Getting on the greens of par 5s in two? Not the least bit familiar. But watching the best golfers in the world repetitively have to punch out from behind trees? I know that game all too well. And why exactly do I pursue a game where the world's #1-ranked golfer couldn't find a fairway with a searchlight (at least until the 72nd hole) and wouldn't have been able to make a putt had the holes been the size of bushel baskets? If I were to win $10 large every time I played like that, I'd be able to cover a chunk of the federal deficit.
But it sure made for great theater.
2
I'm just one of Wood's fans happy to see the idea "you can't go back again" struck down. That failed kind of thinking has doomed too many people along with its companion, "you can't go home again." Bunk!
6
I watched the final holes and was thrilled to see Tiger winning again. He was the driving force behind lifting professional golf to an athletic level worldwide. I grew up in a time when the touring pros more often than not carried some extra kilos and drank a few whiskeys in the club house after their round, rather than work on the weak areas of their game that day. They joked around and interacted more with the crowd, but now we have the Senior PGA tour for this kind of atmosphere. Really looking forward to the Ryder Cup with this Tiger Woods!
6
In a world that has gone insane, seeing Tiger Woods win is like feeling the world is kind of normal again.
10
This weekend I watched two days of golf. You know when that happened last? It happened the last time Tiger Woods was in contention on a Saturday.
9
If I were in a foxhole, I would like to have some one like Tiger, be there with me. He fell, got up, and kept going in the face of adversity. Granted that he created some of it, but he came back a better person.
3
I’m not a golf fan, but hurray for Tiger! I was sickened by the schadenfreude so many people seemed to enjoy by his troubles, and I am happy for him to have this win doing what he loves so much.
12
A few random thoughts from a high handicapper:
First, this is a terrific win for Tiger Woods. I am sure it ranks as one of his most satisfying, given all of what the last 10 year’s has been like for him and for golf fans.
Second, given what it has become, the Tour Championship really is the PGA’s season ending championship tournament. The actual PGA isn’t. So, unless the format changes prove otherwise, this ought to be considered a “major” in the future. Getting that changed will be like moving Mount Olympus.
Third, is Tiger “back?” Well, only time will tell. Nobody claimed Jack Nicklaus was “back” when he won the Masters in 1986. It was simply a great moment in golf. This is another one. The 2018-19 season will tell us whether The New Tiger will dominate like The Old Tiger.
Fourth, keep in mind that only 2 men have won even 2 majors over the age of 42: Old Tom Morris and Julius Boros. It is a very high hurdle to win 5, in order to beat Nicklaus’ majors record.
Finally, is golf “better” with Tiger back in the mix? Well, it is certainly more attention-getting and most definitely noisier. That’s one way to measure “better,” I suppose.
I have never been a Tiger fan. He has been just too remote and rigidly controlled for me over most of his career. But I can make the argument that he is the greatest golfer ever even before this win, and without passing Snead or Nicklaus. It would not be unanimous, but the argument can certainly be made.
4
@Steve Feldmann
Until you have more major wins than Jack you ain’t Numero Uno all time...
1
I applaud him. Who doesn’t like a good come back story?
7
I read the NYT in part for context. Winning a tournament is nice. It does not put you at the "pinnacle" of golf.
2
I am not a huge golf fan but since the 2000 US Open that Tiger won by 15 strokes, I decided to follow this guy. And I have ever since. What amazed me the most was how he could get into terrible trouble with really bad drives and somehow pull off a shot that got him out of it. It is the "mental toughness" referred to in this article. But I noticed something else while watching this tournament. Every day on the back nine he looked tired. Just plain tired. He is 42 and his age is catching up to him in a sport that is very demanding mentally. Can he keep it up? If he does he will easily be regarded as the greatest golfer ever, as many believe he is now. Sam Snead never faced this kind of competition.
7
Congrats Tiger. Well done.
Best wishes to you and the entire team in Paris this week....go get em!!
6
I like TW and think he has been great for the game of golf. The obsession that the media and pundits have with TW is not. When he was on top he can do no wrong. When he was down he could do no right. With this much deserved win, the media fever around Tiger will be all consuming,and all other players will be compared to one man and one man only.
Good for you Tiger!
3
Tiger’s win in five years is inspirational. Yes, he is human and has had his share of personal troubles off the golf course. But let’s not take anything away from his determination, passion and integrity to excel himself after being dropped from the world’s #1 to God-knows-where. Tiger roars again and it sounds great.
12
Woohoo! Bravo!
2
I'm so elated Tiger won, imagine the mounting if, carrying a three stroke lead into the final round, he had lost!
Wonderful to see the world's most famous Asian golfer back in winning form!
4
The current golf champions, despite enormous talent, seem interchangeable to me. Bland.
Except Tiger.
6
My father, who served under Patton, was hobbled by a near-death life-altering workplace accident when he was barely 50 and I was still in high school. He lived the rest of his life with substantial pain and limited mobility. As a blue collar worker with only a 9th-grade education, unable to turn his head more than a few degrees in either direction, he was the most unlikely guy on earth to take up golf in his late 50s. He bought a set of clubs; I bought him lessons. And he became, from that point forward, an adoring fan of Tiger Woods. During his last few years he lamented Woods's absence from golfing's elite. He would have been glued to the TV this weekend with a wicked smile.
22
I have believed for some time that the muscular strength and increasing power of professional golfers are jeopardizing their bodies. Tendons and joints simply cannot withstand these constant and repetitive stresses. Overuse injuries are a big part of the game today. Btw, Gary Player was the first golfer to emphasize fitness training (but without excessive muscle bulk.) At 84 years old he is still in great shape and playing golf. That is my role model.
3
@Open Mouth View
Your “belief” is hogwash. Tour pros of all abilities and sexes use scientific training methods and modern swing theory eliminates most repetitive stress. Modern golfers are fantastic athletes who play decades pain free. Ever heard of Tom Watson or Bernhard Langer?
1
I am a total, lifelong, non-sports-fan; however I find myself compelled to read about Tiger's comeback - hope to have reasons to keep doing so
8
It's a good story. Glad to see Woods back. Why he brought personal devastation on himself- we will never know- but it's a great accomplishment to push back through the pain- a tale of resilience, redemption and resolution.
8
There is something delightful and inspiring in seeing a flawed character, beset by challenges rise above them all and claim victory. Thank you, Tiger Woods. In a day when the slime of fallen human behaviours fill the news cycle, its a joy to watch Mr. Woods rise to the top.
24
Can Tiger slow or reverse the decline of golf as the industry is praying? I doubt it. Country club members are now averaging over 70 years of age and the industry is desperate. And golf communities are struggling with association fees to maintain nearly empty courses. Golf is a recreation rooted in the past century when life was much slower and men assumed far fewer family responsibilities.
8
@Epicurus Well, I can address this. My grandson began playing golf this year and loves it. He's on his high school team and is playing well already. Your first sentence shows the weakness of your position: Tiger, by himself, cannot slow or reverse anything. The game, however, will continue has it always has. Sure, it's not everyone's favorite sport, but when has that ever mattered?
2
@John I have no position other than that of a real estate investor. I have occasionally played golf and enjoyed it. When I reference Tiger I refer to industry reports I've read. And it is certainly possible that courses were overbuilt and the decrease is simple a correction.
Nine holes, @Epicurus. Good for the game. Good for the family.
2
For four days, I was able almost completely to tune out all of the craziness of the world. And I don't even play golf! Watching the throngs mass toward the 18th green, I felt a sense of relief that the opportunity for a second chance, which America often bestows on public figures who fall prey to their humanity, is still a force to be reckoned with.
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Anyone who has or experienced back problems plus those who care for some one who does know how hard it is to "get back to normal." The pain, frustration, meds, depression, doubt and a host of other challenges make life a struggle.
To watch Tiger Woods, an imperfect human being with an imperfect spine pull himself out of the abyss of injury was inspiring. And while being a multimillionaire helped in the end it was his character and a love of the sport that drove him to do the long, painful, tedious and at times humiliating work to get himself back into shape to play professional golf. Congrats to Mr. Woods and those who helped him.
45
I was there. It was a thrilling afternoon. The crowd was so supportive of Tiger. Everyone was caught up in the excitement. He seemed receptive to the enthusiasm also. Congratulations to Tiger Woods on a great comeback.
18
I remember reading a few snarky comments recently that Tiger wouldn't win another tournament and was washed up. I don't quite know how those reader/writers will eat their digital words, but "bon appetit." Tiger has overcome and is an inspiration to so many of us, including those who have been affected by prescription drug abuse. Wow.
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Credit where credit is due, @JoeVanni: the article's by-line belongs to Karen Crouse not Bill Pennington. Ms. Crouse is a terrific sports writer. She captured the day and the ordeal perfectly. Perhaps the most telling aspect of the victory besides the back story (no pun intended) and the massive crowd following TW all day to the depletion of the rest of the field was how normal and ho-hum he made the otherwise supremely talented and hyper-promoted younger players seem in his presence. TW possesses an indelible, head-shaking greatness. All the more so that his comeback was as much personal as it was physical. I'm with Joe Vanni. I feel lucky to be witnessing this extraordinary human being. He makes you query yourself when you think you're giving something important your all.
15
@EspositoLike watching Willie Mays play centerfield or Koufax on the mound. No one compares.
3
From Joe Vanni: My apologies! I reached the end of the article, saw Bill Pennington's name there (thru tears, as my comment indicated)...I should have scrolled to the top to check the proper author, of course!
2
As many troubles Tiger has had in his personal life, bad choices, etc. his golf game was a force to be reckoned with.
I hope he breaks the two remaining records
13
While recognizing that Tiger's return is a boon for professional golf, and great fun for his fans, I have to look at the fact that he just earned more than most people make in a lifetime, in this one tournament, for walking around hitting a ball.
He doesn't even have to carry his own bag.
I remember my old man, working in Pratt and Whitney in CT., for decades, in sweltering heat, I remember seeing that the company wouldn't even let the workers have doors on the toilets in fear they would take too long, and I wonder when the ordinary lives of ordinary people will be recognized for the heroism that they really are.
A life is a life, and Tiger is no hero, though a great, golfer. Almost every human has to work through health and personality problems. Let's be real here.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
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@Hugh Massengill
You are comparing apples and oranges .I’ve watche sport for 50 years and this is without doubt the greatest comeback. He was ditched by everybody,some me say deservedly, and has come back to WIN at the very highest level of his sport after major back surgery on more than one occasion. His sport has also changed quite a lot in his absence but yet he has overcome injury and brought his game to this level. Amazing is the only word that can describe it.
So Hugh my point is give credit where credit is due to a sporting achievement you may never seen again and remember Tiger is not an ordinary person but an Extraordinary.
17
Tiger is just one of thousands of professional athletes that get paid huge sums of money for our entertainment.
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@Hugh Massengill
TW earned about 1M for his Tour Championship win. Justin Rose earned 10M for winning the FedEx cup at the end of this tourney. I wonder why you resent TW his earnings and not JR, let alone that elite sportsmen all make far more money than your old man. I applaud your father for his hard work - PW is a jolly good company. I laud TW for his hard-won victory.
4
Good for him. Good for golf.
He brings excitement, like Mohammad Ali brought to boxing.
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Tiger’s win and the coverage of it underscore just how much of a hold he and his personality have on golf. For years now, commentators, writers, and fans have tried, sometimes valiantly, to replace or move on from Woods with Speith, McIlroy, Day, even Justin Rose, but to no avail. Tiger is the Man, and he will move the “needle” for golf and sports in general as long as he is remotely able. And that might be for years to come.
Now our attention will move to the next question: can he win another major? I still have my doubts, but I hope nonetheless. Imagine the fever pitch of the final round and the attending general excitement if Woods had the Masters in his grasp while teeing off on the 18th on Sunday next early April. Magic.
People will comment on his natural talent, and no doubt he has more than most others. But his desire, guts, might be more important. A comeback like this is not so much about talent as it is will. Back surgeries, drug and personal problems are not surmounted by skill alone.
Well done, Woods.
35
Not a golfing fan, but the climb-back from the devastation of his career through marriage and health problems is amazing. Admire the guy, immensely.
36
Almost up to Sam Snead's record: and we have to remember, without taking anything away from Slammin' Sammy, the rest of the players nowadays are better, the equipment is better, and there are many superb golfers contending for the top spots.
This is a heartwarming comeback story - and whoever would think "heartwarming" is a term that could be applied to the stoic Woods?
Scandal, the exposure of the failings of an intensely private person, the marriage breakup, the physical injuries and need to rebuild his body and his game - - overcoming this in golf, which requires focus and the ability to use that messed up body week after grueling week: It's amazing.
When he was young he had extraordinary talent. He had also worked to develop that - but although we read about it - a driven childhood dedicated to improving skill and fortitude, we didn't observe it.
The triumphant recovery has been in full view.
23
@cheryl
Sam Snead was a terrific athlete and a pure swinger of the golf club. With today’s technology against today’s competition he would have well over 100 Tour wins and double that worldwide....
1
@Draw Man
You bet he would!
Like many I am a fan and seeing magic in his play no longer surprises. It is expected. I am at a loss, though, that he did not take a (long) moment to acknowledge and connect to those most important to the phenomena, the throngs who formed the sea upon which he sailed.
4
Great for Tiger.I played in the Canadian Amateur a couple of times.To be 42 and control ones nerves like he did was amazing.However .Rose won the Fedex and if one did not know one would think Tiger won.The stupidest tournament ever and glad the format will be changed next year.
9
The format next year is much worse. Much much worse.
1
Indeed, I was just not rooting but shouting while watching - at home on tv.
I said to folks nearby "the earth has started spinning again. And the weekends on golf tv are going to be exciting again. And folks in other sports are going to lose millions of fans at least as tv audience."
Golf Gods are smiling again since many more folks - way over the hill like me pushing 70 - can think of getting a hole on one - any day in a comeback fashion.
And golf business is raising glasses as millions more will be spent on merchandise.
A Great Win - ya da man.
12
I watched some of the final round on the tube just to see Tiger. I don’t even like golf. What does that tell you?
70
While Tiger was out Jordan Speith, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Thomas, and Rory McIlroy won championships. He left them all in the dust on Sunday.
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@Alan Snipes
All those people possess great golfing talent too.
But Tiger transcends.
6
Tiger Woods' career was derailed by his drinking while driving and cheating on his wife and by the ensuing scandalous revelations of his smarmy choices. Once derailed by his own actions, his career was kept off the tracks first by his own head and then by his back.
Don't let Woods off the hook by saying his career was derailed by back injuries.
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@Peggy Mason
I agree that he made horrendous choices but I admire his ability to accept that responsibility and move on with his life and with his dream of just "playing golf again".
This Tiger has matured beyond the stifled youth of years ago. I now see a man who is capable, deserving and humbled by this amazing achievement.
Well done, Tiger.
3
@Peggy Mason. Everyone watching yesterday was well aware of Tiger's horrendous past personal choices. Like all of us, he is human. Unlike us, his flaws and actions were on full and embarrassing public display. This in no way detracts from his accomplishment. In fact, it makes it all the more amazing. Perhaps our own humanity might allow for a second chance and forgiveness.
4
@Peggy Mason
How mean spirited is the public supposed to be Ms. Mason? Is nobody ever forgiven in your world? Is nobody ever redeemed? Is a public humiliation and disgrace, a divorce, tens of millions in alimony and child support and THEN four back surgeries and physical agony not sufficient punishment for you?
How long does he remain on your hook?
1
This was an inspirational event like none other I’ve witnessed in sport. Perhaps the story that was missed is that Woods came within a lucky bounce by Justin Rose of winning the FedEx Cup; starting the season as a near invalid. This will be part of golf lore for all time.
20
Let me be the back sheep to throw some rain on the parade of accolades as witnessed by reader recommends here.
IMO, there is strong circumstantial evidence Tiger was on PEDS pre 2008. He performed like an Armstrong in biking, Clemens/Bonds in baseball etc. He associated with known people in the medical community that dealt in illegal drugs and there was no real testing for it in golf pre 2008 and like many PED abusers, Tiger suffered from constant unusually illnesses, operations after 2008 and dramatically went downhill in performance.
Don't get me wrong, Tiger even without the alleged PEDs most likely would have been a great golfer but not let the record he has.
Just like with the other abusers, the media, management, sponsors, other players, fans keep mum about it because everybody is making money and/or enjoying it.
He is most likely not taking PEDS anymore because of his condition and testing but proves he can still win but not any wheres like before. Since he is most likely clean and aging, look for him to win a few more tourneys but nothing like he did before.
As soon as everybody is not making money off of him, look for somebody to rat him out just like with the other major PED users.
7
Interesting.
Tiger is an extremely hard working and dedicated golfer.
Having said that, he did start looking like a linebacker prior to his injuries set his game back.
2
@Paul, I've had the same suspicions, but I draw different conclusions. I doubt that PEDs would have helped Tiger play better golf, a complex sport in which sheer muscle has always been an ambiguous factor. My hunch is that he might have used them more to enhance his appearance and feed his vanity, and that the costs were much greater than the gains. If true (as I would bet, if forced to do so), I suspect that Tiger's PED use would be overwhelmingly a tragedy, a factor mainly in limiting the record he could have produced.
2
@Brad- Thank you for your reply. Yes Tiger is hard working and dedicated now because imo he is most likely off PEDS.
He should be congratulated for what he is doing now but should be investigated by all the people mentioned in my post and drop the blue wall of silence including the author of this report.
If evidence comes out, he should be stripped of his titles just like they should do with athletics like Barry Bonds. The home run king is Hank Aaron not Bonds.
Reading Bill Pennington on Tiger Woods brought tears to my eyes. Years ago, Tiger raised the bar in the sport of golf. In his remarkable comeback, he had to beat a field of (mostly) younger greats, many of whom grew up idolizing him, and playing a game that Tiger was in part responsible for changing: much greater emphasis on fitness bordering on the statuesque, extraordinary discipline, and laser focus that admittedly, may be unique to him. I don't know about you, but I for one feel so lucky to be alive in the age of Tiger. Here's hoping he raises the bar again by breaking both Snead's and Nicklaus's records :) !
29
Face it. Some people just have God given talent that will come through regardless of the obstacles placed in front of it. So I'll just point out the obvious. The man is a joy to watch. You go Tiger, and here's to many more victories.
39
An amazing comeback. From having almost 1200 players ranked ahead of him, to a win against the best in the world in the same season.
I suspect in the spring these golf tournaments will return to what they were 15-20 years ago.......the rest of the players in the field competing for second place.
4
I am buoyed by this story. Not only by Tiger's perseverance and dedication, but by the human celebration of redemption. What a tremendous example of our spirit!
67
Yes, I was rooting for Woods to win while my wife not so much. While she was considering only Woods the private person, whose behavior was admittedly less than admirable, I was considering only Woods the golfer, arguably the best ever.
So I am hoping Woods's comeback is for real and he goes on to win at least 3 more events to be the winningest golfer ever and that they are all major championships so that Nicklaus's record falls. It's because I appreciate greatness for itself and I want to be witness to it.
16
Courage greatly fought breeds champions, no matter our age.
18
As an avid golfer I appreciate how difficult it is to execute a golf swing that produces desired results. Additionally as someone who had the same herniation and surgery as TW I appreciate the pain and change required to continue to play golf. To do what TW has done at the highest level of the game is remarkable. The physical skills and mental toughness required to compete and now win the Tour Championship against the best (and mostly younger) players in golf reinforces the TW legend. Well done Tiger Woods!
71
The raw talent, mental toughness and grit that allowed Tiger to claw his way back at his age and against such a talented and competitive field is nothing short of amazing. Kudos!
79
There are many wonderful golfers out there to be cheered, including quite a few who have come to the fore since Tiger's career went south. That said, it was wonderful to see a man whose life had gone off track, who had suffered both personal & professional setbacks (certainly some of his own making), and who had suffered through so much physically fight all the way back. He is still a great golfer and still fun to watch.
123
@Anne-Marie Hislop Yes, there are others, and I am a fan of some of them more than of Woods. So I think I'm really agreeing with you? But nobody else compares in ability. The World Golf Ranking uses a minimum of 40 rounds as its divisor. If instead it divided points simply by rounds played, Tiger would be #1 in the world again already, less than a year into his comeback. At 42, after losing 5 productive career years, Woods is within 2 of Snead's all-time record of 82 PGA wins. At Tiger's age, Snead had won "only" 70. And Tiger did much to generate the wave of many wonderful young golfers out there, a much larger volume of serious competition than Snead faced, or than Nicklaus faced in his quest for 18 majors. We're seeing excellence at something at a remarkable level of unique superiority. His much higher level of fame makes entirely rational sense.
6