There’s no argument Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of the post-Jack Nicklaus era.
There’s also no argument Woods has polarised the golfing world more than any other golfer in history.
To his supporters, Woods can do no wrong. To his detractors, his return was unwelcome.
So his comeback this week to competition after a four-month layoff with his suspect back has been greeted with mixed feelings.
His supporters want him to break Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. Woods has 14.
Those supporters are looking forward to watching Woods return to his major-winning ways to end the drought since the 2008 US Open.
There have been 26 majors since then, and to be fair Woods has missed six through various reasons.
But it’s still a 20-major drought, and the way he’s returned in his own end-of-year tournament – the Hero World Challenge in Florida – winning a 15th major is a binocular distance away.
Besides, the way the world’s top three Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, and Adam Scott have been playing of late, golf is in the very best of hands.
Throw in the next world number one Jordan Spieth, and Woods will have trouble getting anywhere near the quality quartet in the foreseeable future.
Currently Woods is ranked world 24, but his career stats are well above that standing.
He’s been world number one for a record 623 weeks, well ahead of Greg Norman’s 313 weeks, and Sir Nick Faldo’s 97.
Woods’ career prizemoney alone stands at $109.6 million, from Phil Mickelson’s $75.3 million, and Vijay Singh’s $63.6 million.
So the Tiger Woods return at the end of 2014 adds spice to next year. How he slots into the overall mix will be entirely up to Tiger himself.
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