In golf even less than elsewhere, we know that we do not lack respect for legends. Tiger Woods landed in Augusta earlier this week with all due respect, and of all the greatest golfers in the starting gate for the first Major of the year, not one dared sweep away the chances of the Tiger to figure well. And too bad if he ended up in limbo at Genesis in February for his first tournament in seven months. “You should never rule out Tiger,” said world number 2 Rory McIlroy before the tournament began on Thursday evening. He is able to do some truly amazing things. »
Nobody, of course, has forgotten the madness of 2019 right here in Georgia, one of the most beautiful moments in the history of sport, the great return of the Tiger, winner of his 15th Grand Slam after a decade spent below land, between revelations about his private life and repeated back operations. Except that since then, the American has again dented the cabin with a car accident which left his right leg in pieces at the start of 2021. Returned to competition a year ago, he has only played four tournaments since, far from his level. “Yes, I am rusty, had recognized the now almost fifty (47 years old) last month. But I’ve been through this a few times in the past and I’ve done pretty well. »
Woods or the eternal return. Accompanied by the hope of anyone who loves golf to see him push the button like magic. “If we’re a little honest with ourselves, it looks like he doesn’t have a chance. But we will never say that on TV! He’s won five times here, there’s hope, you can dream with him,” luminaries Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon said on Tuesday. on ESPN during a fiery debate over the Tiger. That’s how it is, his mere presence electrifies the public and brings the competition into another dimension, even if it’s a Grand Slam lift. “He inspires curiosity, he intrigues, because he is one of the greatest golfers in history, that there have been all his escapades, his accidents, summarizes Patrice Barquez, agent of the best French players and present in the field for 30 years. We always dream of yet another comeback and that he wins his 16th Major. »
fear of emptiness
In reality, the doubts about Woods relate less to his level of golf than to his ability to trudge for four days on the demanding course of Augusta. The leg is stiff, the ankle weakened. The Tiger limps low now. “If he didn’t have to climb those hills and all the rest, you could almost say he’s among the favorites,” McIlroy said. It’s just this physical strain for him to walk 72 holes, especially on such a hilly course. “The terrible weather forecast, with rain and strong winds announced for this weekend, will not help his joints either.
It’s not easy to get used to hearing about the crazy young dog who burst onto the PGA Tour like a bullet in the late 90s as a war veteran. But the interested party knows very well what it is. The fear of emptiness also seizes him. On Tuesday, he did not hide that the possibility that this was his last Masters had “crossed his mind”. “When I play this course, I tell myself that it may be the last time,” he added. Last year, I didn’t know if I would be able to play it again. I passed the cut, and it was great. You have to be able to appreciate the time I have here, and remember the great times. »
The simple fact of seeing it at the start must therefore be enough to make us happy. Beyond our little personal pleasure, the man with 82 PGA titles (a record shared with the legend Sam Snead) is quite simply “indispensable” for golf, observes Patrice Barquez. Two reasons for this:
“We are in this period a little hollow in stars. Even if we Europeans want to hang on to Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm, they don’t come close to Tiger in terms of image. So for the development of golf at the world level, the next generation is not enough. And then there is the current context, the circuit is exploding with the new Tour financed by Saudi Arabia. The value of golf, its understanding by the general public, its image, are diluted. Tiger Woods is above all this turbulence, he embodies golf as a whole. So even on one leg, it has to be there and still for a while. »
To listen to what he says, the American does not want to hang up. The way he talks about veterans like Fred Couples (63), with whom he trained earlier this week and whom he likes to see “still competitive”, invites optimism. But one can wonder how he will experience his downgrading if his level really plummets over time. How long will he accept to consider a tournament successful simply because he passed the cut? And wouldn’t it be too sad for golf to see one of its idols fight far from the best in the middle of the plebs? No one wants to ask these questions right now. Right now, all that counts is the feverish expectation of seeing him land his ball on the tee of hole number 1.