Fallen golf superstar
The sad, unstoppable farewell of Tiger Woods
15.06.2024, 13:40
He once dominated at will, but today Tiger Woods is just one of many. At least in sporting terms. Fans are still curious to see whether the 48-year-old will make his big comeback at some point. But there is hardly anything left of the glory of the past.
It was like so often in recent years. The man on the green looked like Tiger Woods, he spoke like Tiger Woods, but he didn’t play golf like Tiger Woods. The former industry superstar had two rounds full of bogeys at the US Open, and then the third major of the year ended prematurely for him.
And at the end of this disgrace, which is slowly becoming a habit, the 48-year-old was not particularly keen to talk about the future. “It could be, it could not be,” said Woods when asked if this was his last US Open. In any case, Woods is currently only competing in the majors, the four big tournaments of the year. This concept is intended to protect his battered body, but it has its weaknesses.
“My game wasn’t as precise as it should have been,” said Woods after his exit in Pinehurst. “Physically, I’m better than at the beginning of the year, but I wasn’t able to play much in preparation – so as not to injure myself again and risk the majors.” For Woods, it’s now always about choosing the lesser of two evils – “pick your poison,” he says.
He still draws crowds, and that was the case in North Carolina. People want to see if the sheer talent of the 15-time major winner is enough for a big comeback. But the operations that Woods has had to undergo on his knees, legs and back for more than 20 years are taking their toll. The last major setback was a car accident in 2021 in which he suffered serious leg injuries. Woods came back, but in the seven majors since then he has had to give up twice and failed to make the cut three times. He finished the others in 47th and 60th place.
And now? “I only have one tournament left this season,” said Woods, referring to the British Open in July, the last major of the season. “One more event and then I’ll be back, whenever I come back.” He didn’t say it, but it was somehow implied: if he comes back at all after that.