He’s been a part of golf’s landscape for over 20 years now, a long career by any standards.
He’s been a part of golf’s landscape for over 20 years now, a long career by any standards. There is very little he has not achieved, be it winning Tour titles by the dozean, Majors in numbers many can only dream of, been part of several winning Ryder Cup teams to name only a few feats.
In the last few years though, things have begun to fall part for Tiger Woods. A public divorce, injuries that have stalked him repeatedly, and now, most recently, a nerve problem in his back that has taken him away from golf completely. Walking is all he has left, at least for the moment.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of the Hero World Challenge at Albany on Wednesday, Woods said he had no time frame to share when it came to when he would be back on a golf course. Or indeed, if ever.
“I have no answer for that, and neither does my surgeon or my physios,” he admitted ruefully on being asked when he was likely to play again. “There is no timetable. That’s the hardest part, that for me is there’s really nothing I can look forward to, nothing I can build towards. It’s just taking it literally just day by day and week by week and time by time.
“It’s different from any of the other surgeries and procedures that I’ve had in the past. For nerves, there are really no timetables and therein lies the tricky part of it... it just depends on how the nerve heals and how it settles.”
Fourteen Major wins, four less than all-time leader Jack Nicklaus is about the only number Woods still has ahead of him as a goal, but there is no knowing if he will ever be back at all. With a new generation of players now straddling the landscape led by Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, he knows it will only get harder. And nearing 40, there is a philosopher emerging in the golfer as well.
“It’s hard to believe I’ve been out here for 20 years, going to my 21st season. How fast it’s gone by. To have had the amount of success I’ve had in such a short period of time, it’s been really cool.
“I think pretty much everything beyond this has been — will be — gravy. I’ve passed Jack (Nicklaus) in the all-time win list, just shy of Sam (Snead). I passed Sam a decade ago in major championships but I’m still shy of Jack’s. So I’ve had a pretty good career for my 20s and 30s.
“For my 20 years out here I think I’ve achieved a lot, and if that’s all it entails, then I’ve had a pretty good run. But I’m hoping that’s not it. I’m hoping that I can get back out here and compete against these guys.
“I really do miss it. I miss being out here with the boys and mixing it up with them and see who can win the event. That’s fun. But if that’s not the case anymore, then I’ll find other avenues, that being growing my foundation, golf course design or other projects.”
So, is retirement on the cards, like his good friend and basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who only two days ago announced he was calling it a day
“Well, dude, I mean, 20 years in the NBA is more than 20 years in most sports. At his position, I mean, he was a flyer. You only have so many jumps in the body, and on top of that, only so many landings.
“He played two Olympic teams, all the qualifiers. The guy played a lot of basketball. And five rings, I believe, maybe seven Finals or something like that. So, I mean, you add up all those games, it takes a toll on the body and eventually it just doesn’t heal anymore. And that sport is so fast, so athletic and so quick, it’s just tough. It’s been tough to watch him go through the season he’s had, and it’s understandably so, he’s been there for 20 years.”
There was more, much more, but under all the words there is a a sense of growing realisation that he has come to terms with not playing again if his body does not permit it. Assignments remain in plenty, his foundation, the Ryder Cup where he will be one of the vice-captains of Davis Love III, and others. But he is also willing to wait till the very last before taking that call on walking away. For millions of fans, there is still hope.
