The fall from grace is not often kind. Dogged by injury problems, struggling with swing changes and without a win since his personal problems began in 2009, Tiger Woods limped sadly out of The Players Championship midway through Thursday’s first round in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and into an uncertain future.
Woods return to golf and this championship from what he had described as a minor injury lasted only nine holes. Woods withdrew because of pain in his troubled left knee and the new injury to his Achilles, but not before taking 42 shots for his worst nine-hole score on the Sawgrass golf course. The 14-times major winner was looking at shooting somewhere in the 80’s before conceding defeat to his painful injuries as he sadly and slowly limped off the course.
The fall started on Tiger’s first hole, hitting a 3-wood that sailed well to the left and deep into the pine trees. On his second shot, his left foot slipped on the pine straw (similar to the shot on the 17th hole at Augusta National in the third round of the Masters that caused this latest injury) and he wound up on the side of a mound short of the green, which dealt him another awkward stance. Throughout the day, Woods flexed his left knee after hitting tee shots; took baby steps to climb out of a bunker; walked with a golf club for support; and, lagged far behind his playing partners with a noticeable limp (usually he is leading the walk down the fairway). On this day, Tiger’s quickest steps were to catch up to playing partner Martin Kaymer on the way to the 10th tee to tell him he was done.
Before departing the tournament and fading into an uncertain future, Tiger hobbled quietly into a certified fitness trailer which showcased a sign that stated, “Is knee pain holding you back?” Maybe, just maybe, Woods was in the process of working out the details of another endorsement.
At any rate, the troubled Woods needs help to deal with his growing problems. Woods’ problems date back to the breakdown of his marriage following a series of reported affairs and the pieces have never been put back in order. His world self-destructed on and off the golf course since that moment in time.
In the short term, it is clear that Woods needs to get his knee and Achilles problems healed before he can even think about turning up for this year’s U.S. Open in June.
Woods already has gone through four surgeries on his left knee. Now, he has an Achilles problem. Woods has gone 18 months since his last victory, three years since a major tournament triumph, and he has no knowledge when he will be fit enough to compete again.
Many are wondering just where his troubled career goes from here, including Tiger Woods himself. Tiger’s fall from grace has not been easy. Only time will tell whether or not Woods can recapture the beauty of his form.
No comments:
Post a Comment