It's time for The Masters and Tiger Woods is one who's gunning for the title. It's the 88th edition and Woods is teeing up for the 26th time. There are questions being asked about his health and state for competing in the prestigous tournament.
Woods playing golf nowadays could constitute a miracle. Despite things going against him, he is participating to win. He's not there for fun and games. This tournament would mark his second appearance of the season and a first major since last year's one in Georgia.
It didn't go so well. He pulled out after three rounds due to limping. Sadly, this has come to be a normality. He has made sporadic appearances stemming from his car accident in 2021 where he suffered a significant leg injury. It was this injury that questions were being raised about his playing days and if he was done.
However, the man himself has pushed aside these claims. He is aiming to win his sixth green jacket and thus tie the record for most jackets with Jack Nicklaus. He's under the belief that if all the pieces fall into place, he can get that elusive jacket. He said, "If everything comes together, I think I can get one more."
It's due to the lack of playing that he is ranked at no. 959. As such, he is out ranked by the star studded 89 player field. The bookies seem to have no faith in him winning the tournament. He is far behind world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, a favorite for many given his scintillating form; defending champion Jon Rahm; grand slam chasing Rory McIlroy and a host of other stars who have accumulated a flurry of titles since Woods last won in October 2019. Six months earlier, he had ended an 11-year-wait for his 15th major title at Augusta National.
There are concerns in regard to his ability to navigate the course. Woods has admitted that he will be playing while taking painkillers. It'll be challenging for him to take shots that aren't on tee boxes. He had ankle fusion surgery after last year's withdrawl.
His ankle is fine now. It's his other body parts that are causing the problems. "...The back, the knee, other parts of the body … and just the endurance capability of walking a long time and being on my feet for a long time." He will still make history even if he doesn't win. He has made the cut 23 consecutive times. He shares the record with Fred Couples and Gary Player. He will lead the record by reaching the cut for the 24th time.
There has been bad news for Woods. The weather has played its part for the sixth straight year. A 2018 study showed that pace on Thursday and Friday took as long as five hours and seventeen minutes in 2016 and 2017. That pace would mean Woods would likely get through Amen Corner and be hitting his approach into the 14th hole by sunset on Thursday. Assuming he can complete the 14th hole, he’d have 22 holes to play Friday.
If this were to occur, it would be the second straight year that he would be required to play 18 holes. It would be the second straight year Woods would be required to play more than 18 holes in one day. He completed only 11 holes in his second round on Friday at the 2023 Masters before play was called due to inclement weather. He then played the remaining seven holes on Saturday morning. He made the cut on the number and played the first seven holes of his third round before play was called again.
Woods would have had to play 29 holes that Sunday. However, he ultimately withdrew after he said he aggravated his plantar fasciitis. He didn’t play a 72-hole event until his Hero World Challenge last December. Woods has completed 72-holes at an official PGA Tour event just twice in six attempts since returning from the 2021 single-car crash. He stated in a pre-tournament presser, "And I prefer it warm and humid and hot,” Woods said. “I know we’re going to get some thunderstorms. So at least it will be hot. It won’t be like last year.”
You have to admire his mental strength. 99% of other people might give up after everything that Tiger Woods went through. However, that will be his ultimate downfall. Every athlete's body should be the indicator of when enough is enough. If they continue to ignore their 'indicator', it will soon break and their bodies will most likely left too damaged to be repaired. At 48 and his injury record, Tiger Woods should consider retiring after this tournament. As mentioned earlier, he will mostly break a record regardless if he wins or not. I'm not a guidance counsellor but in my opinion, he should go into coaching. He could coach his son, Charlie and other up and rising golf players.
Source Material
Bantock, J. 2024. Tiger Woods hurts ‘every day,’ but believes he can win one more Masters.
Hirsh, J. 2024. Why Tiger Woods’ Masters might have just gotten a whole lot tougher.