Woods released the news on his website – the European tour picked it up, but not the USPGA site, they didn’t bother – which is a sign of the times.
He’s back, but a little Tiger goes a long way these days.
The world’s longest standing number one golfer with 623 weeks, is now ranked an all-time low 21 and plummeting.
It’s important to place the greatest golfer of them all – Jack Nicklaus – in the pecking order of world number one.
Official rankings didn’t tee off until April 1986 when the magnificent Nicklaus era was over with a record 18 majors, and 19 runners up – just a few strokes away from 37 majors.
Woods will never match the “Golden Bear” as a golfer, or a man.
And that’s what Woods faces this week when he resumes from injury on Thursday at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, at Firestone, where he’s won seven times.
His credibility is on the line.
From the time he was three, putting against Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas national television show, to carding 48 through nine holes when he was five, to cracking 80 for the first time aged eight – Woods’ father Earl had carefully jig-sawed his son’s life to become a very special golfer.
And he achieved that, his son revered right round the world, fawned over wherever he went – he was bigger than golf.
Earl died of cancer in 2005, and that triggered a different Tiger – a selfish, arrogant, in-your-face competitor, whose popularity began to plummet like his ranking.
His unsavoury divorce due to serial infidelities was his fault and his business. Sponsors dropping off the band wagon his fault, but sacking his loyal right-hand man Steve Williams shows just how low Woods can go.
He has zero people skills – it’s his way or the highway.
The Kiwi caddy has been lugging Woods’ bag for 12 years, winning 13 of his 14 majors, and 63 of his 71 USPGA tour wins with him. They have been rightfully rated the best golfer-caddy combination of all-time.
And Woods sacked him. It gets worse. While Woods was off tour for months on end once his infidelities and on-going injuries began in tandem in November 2009, he didn’t pay Williams a cent.
Williams couldn’t hang around forever on the never never so he teamed up recently with Adam Scott, and that peeved Woods – so flick.
Earl would turn in his grave. He never created this Tiger.
Now it’s back to some normality.
His golf this week will be under close scrutiny, with no tournament win in the US since September 2009 – the BMW – and no win anywhere else except Melbourne with the Australian Masters in November 2009 – immediately before his infidelities hit the fan.
There has never been a longer drought for the 35-year-old, but he may as well get used to it
The golfing world has shot past him, he’s no longer a champion or a threat, no opponent will ever believe again they are playing for second money.
And how his peers treat him over the Williams sacking will be interesting. Woods can expect some pretty cutting remarks, and he’ll have no option but to cop them.
It’s all part of the new deal Woods has cut for himself, but he won’t be able to hack it.
To him it’s top dog, or nothing. Anything less and Woods will be on his bike. Permanently.
Would be be missed?
No, there are far too many really good young golfers who are decent role models for the sport: Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Ryo Ishikawa, Matteo Manassero, and Jason Day.
In the middle age group there are the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Camillo Villegas, and the Molinari brothers.
And the much respected older brigade stand out too: Phil Mickelson, Freddie Couples, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Angel Cabrera.
So golf has more than enough to keep those television cameras rolling, and the deep sub-70s being carded.
Golf doesn’t need Tiger Woods.
TerryPAR3
Guest
I'm so sick of people commenting on Tiger's "behavior." SO WHAT if he gets upset by a bad shot.! I've heard 10 times worst from the foursome I play with regularly. Now add cameras, golf records, rankings, and millions of dollars to the equation and you expect Tiger to show No Emotion? That's why golf is so boring to watch now without Tiger. Every athlete competing at a high level shows a high level of emotion. Sheek, I'm willing to bet the house you've been a Tiger hater his whole career. It's pretty consistent with the rest of the haters- you couldn't beat him on the course, so now hang the same stupid comments about him being arrogant, exhibiting bad behavior, not signing autographs, blah blah blah. I bet if someone opened your closet, we'd find a lot more skeletons in your pompous closet. Get over yourself.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I agree with Hillary on this (and thank you, thank you, for mention Tenzing Norgay! :D He gets forgotten by so many people), however I disagree with you that how you conduct yourself as a human being matters, and I'm not living under a rock. :D On field, I think it is vital that a champion conducts himself with respect and ethics (to some degree, just ask W.G. Grace :D), but off field? No, I don't think it matters. OJ Simpson's being a convicted felon, and (probably) being a double-murderer does not change the fact that he was a champion, and one of the greatest American footballers of all time. To use less extreme examples, Ty Cobb was a baseball legend, but wasn't exactly a saint. Even Bradman has been criticized for his treatment of some of his teammates, and his off-field behavior.
sheek
Guest
Well, if you going to use the argument that only results matter, & that Tiger Woods' behaviour is irrelevant to his golf, then let me give this comparison. Hilary & Tenzing were the first officially recognised people to climb the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953. Yet there is just a hint of possibility that two other climbers - Mallory & Irvine - might have made the summit in 1924, but both perished on the descent journey. Asked about this many years later, Hilary said he was comfortable that Tenzing & he should be officially recognised as the first to the summit. Reaching the summit of any mountain, he argued, was only 50% of the job done. You also have to descend safely. I would use part of this argument for sport as well. Having outrageous talent is only 50% of the job done. How you conduct yourself as a human being is the other 50%. Those who say things like character & integrity don't matter, must be living under a rock. Whether champions like it or not (& there are plenty who don't), when you come into the public domain, you are also required to behave as a champion in addition to playing like one. And if none of this matters, then why is it all sports (like life) are governed by rules & laws of behaviour.....???
sheek
Guest
David, Perhaps you may know of Earl better than I do, but I get the impression (& the little I've read of Earl) that Tiger is a chip off the old block, from the arrogant attitude to the womanising. Would Earl really have disapproved of his son's behaviour? Or merely disapproved that he got caught...???
Adrian
Guest
I hope the NSW Government haven't just paid the 28th ranked golfer in the world $3mil to play the Australian Open! I would think Victoria wouldn't be too bothered in missing out on him in 2011. Will he even make the President's Cup team?
keith
Guest
Tiger Woods made Golf. I hope he comes back and goes on winning so you eat your words. Golf still needs Tiger, there isn't anyone out there that keeps winning with the same consistency that Tiger won. How many changes at #1 have we seen in the past months? No-one can maintain form like Tiger could.
Mike
Guest
Tom Watson over Tiger? Tiger was in the top 5 at the Masters at 35! Tom Watson wasn't even close at the same age, let alone 61. Now I know you really have no business even commenting on golf after that one. Tom Watson? The same Tow Watson that stole a PGA players wife and took a pee in the woods at the Masters this year? Wow. You guys had a heart attack at TW spitting. Oh the "Moral Police" double standard. I forgot.
Mike
Guest
David, You sound like you're reminiscing over the grand old times that never existed. When did journalism become biased opinion over facts? Your hate of Tiger has clouded your golf judgment. It's funny how all these golfers and skeptics have to tell the world they're not afraid of Tiger, while he's injured, The same guys like Martin Kaymer who missed 4 straight Masters cuts. Ian Poulter who couldn't hit an elephant in the butt with a bass fiddle. Rory McIlroy, who completely imploded at Augusta at the sound of Tiger's rally. People also say they're not afraid of the devil either, until they meet him.
Greg
Guest
Why the anger David? I think it has coloured your views about Tiger. At least you admit he is a very special golfer. He will be back. Personally, I think the young guys like Jason Day and the Ulsterman Rory M are great to watch, but are not (yet) a patch on Woods. So, he's a bit grumpy, and a (blonde) pants man. He makes golf more interesting as a spectator sport. I don't think he has treated Williams too shabbily, but I am very suprised by the nasty response by SW to his contract of employment being ended. You'd think he'd be a bit more grateful.
Will Collins
Guest
Tiger is still the greatest golfer to ever play the game. Sure he hasn't reached 18 majors but he completely destroyed practically every other golf record. There's Celtics players with more rings than Michael Jordan, but at the end of the day does that make them better than Jordan? Absolutely not. Did Jack win 3 consecutive US Amateurs like Tiger? No. Win a major with a torn knee? No. Win Augusta, at 21, by 12 strokes? No. Did Jack win a real US OPEN, not the watered down 2011 Congressional, by 15 strokes? No. Have all 4 majors at once (Tiger Slam)? No. Look at the ratings for this week and the tickets sales for the PGA Championship- they've doubled almost overnight and you expect me to believe golf doesn't need Tiger? Look at the golf channel website and see all of the articles about Tiger and I'm supposed to believe your opinion? This "new crop" of golfers you mentioned is completely ridiculous. None of the people you listed in your article have won consistently on tour and you know it. How is Tiger fading when he's still been the highest paid athlete the last 2 years? You can spew all the crap you want but you're clearly delusional. It's easy to kick a guy when he's down and this article added absolutely nothing new to the list of the same garbage all the Tiger haters regurgitate when they try to mask the hate they've had for him since day one. I think Steve Williams has shown his true colors, after being made the ONLY MULTI-MILLIONAIRE PGA caddie in history and running his mouth to the press about loyalty. It's caddies on tour that sleep in motels and scrape to make ends meet and somehow Tiger did Steve wrong by offering him an Elite lifestyle he NEVER would have seen by carrying a bag? Steve Williams donated a million to charity for god sake! People replace caddies all the time but now it's the ultimate betrayal? Give me a break! Tiger lives in a 24 hour news cycle microscope that's much different than the age of Nicklaus and Palmer where their image was more carefully constructed to make them saints. I've heard numerous stories about Palmer's womanizing ways but somehow it's never brought up. I wonder why? You don't know Jack Nicklaus and you don't know Tiger. Shame on you. I enjoy watching Tiger compete. He shows emotion like EVERY OTHER SPORT- big deal. Watching these scrubs play when Tiger's not there is as boring as watching paint dry. To be the best for almost 10 years, you have to perform at a high level and the pressure is unbelievable. Get over yourself and stop hating. It's very unbecoming of a person your age.
langou
Roar Guru
I agree that with a whole host of great new golfers coming through that Tiger's relevance is fading with every tournament. Right now, if I had a choice between watching Rory McElroy , Jason Day or Tiger I would be following Rory and Jason. As for Earl, maybe it was his single mindedness to help his son become a great golfer that resulted him becoming that selfish, arrogant, in-your-face competitor – traits that were well and truly part of Tiger’s character long before 2005. Lets not forget Earl wasn’t known for his fidelity either.
David Lord
Guest
And gidday to you too sheek. If Earl was alive today, he'd whup his recalcitrant son big time for ignoring his upbringing. Earl never taught him to ride roughshod over society. NO WAY. There will always be a day of reckoning, and it's about to arrive,The jury is out to see if he can hack it.
David Lord
Guest
CT, I trust you won't be holding your breath waiting for all those former Woods' quslities to surface this week, you'll pass out. Nobody fears him anymore, and you can bet your last dollar from here on in he'll never match the euphoria of Darren Clarke's British Open win, or Rory McIlroy's sensational US Open success, or Ryo Ishikawa's 58, or the sheer enjoyment Rickie Fowler, and Jason Day, show when they attack. They actually enjoy playing their golf, and show it. You can stick with a surly Woods, who reckons the world owes him. Bollocks.
David Lord
Guest
TH, of course Tom Watson, I was only naming regular PGA tour golfers not Champions tour. There would be at least 20 more in that case, led by the remarkable TW who knows nothing whatsoever about the sands of time. Give me a 61-year-old Tom Watson any day over a 35-year-old Woods. ANY DAY.
sheek
Guest
Gidday David, And whoever thinks that sporting greatness & impeccable character don't go hand in glove..........?
ChitownTony
Guest
I only watch tiger. When anyone else tees up I turn my head bc I only want to watch tigers swing. Tigers ball control, smart lies in sand traps and tree patches are surreal. I've seen tiger snake and sink 20 yard puts. While I've seen other tournament winners miss straight 20 yard puts. Tiger was a prophet on the golf course and without him it would just be a boring game for a bunch of old guys, like it was before tiger.
Tyger Holt
Guest
Really? Let's see advertising dollars and the completely skyrocketing ratings upon his return this week. Whether people are tuning to watch him fail or hoping for a comeback, everybody will be watching! And you don't put Tom Watson on your list??