Eldrick Tont Woods certainly accomplished some amazing feats in the world of golf. (Perhaps in the world of bimbos as well, but that's a story for others to tell).
The list of Tiger's records, or near-records, is long. Everybody knows he won 14 major championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus' 18. But like Jack, he's the only other player to win a "career grand slam" three times. In other words, he won the Masters, US Open, British Open, and PGA championship at least three times each.
In total career wins, his 79 trails only the 82 of Sam Snead. He's the all-time leading career money winner, though given inflation and how the purses have soared since the "old days", this should come as no surprise.
Woods first became #1 in the world way back in 1997, when he was only 21 years old. A brief lapse in late 2004 -- early 2005 notwithstanding, he was the reigning #1 for over a decade -- an incredible feat.
Indeed, few would doubt that from the late 1990s until 2008 or so, Tiger dominated a sport for a decade like no other had ever done before -- or likely ever will again. Legends like Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan were phenomenal and certainly worthy of all the accolades they received, but they played a team game. Without a terrific supporting cast, neither would have won a single championship, let alone several.
Golf is different. In any given tournament, a player plays the same course four days in a row and hopes to finish 72 holes having taken the fewest number of strokes. There's typically 150 entrants to start the tournament, and maybe 60-70 after the "cut", aspiring to do the same thing. Despite their caddies giving them yardage and other advice here and there, every player is on his own when he swings his clubs and hits the golf ball.
And not that long ago, nobody did it better than Eldrick Tont Woods. During his hey-day, there were many times when "handicappers" would take Tiger over the entire field before the tournament even started. That in itself showed just how dominant he was.
But things haven't been well for Tiger in recent years. Yes, he got married to a gorgeous woman in 2004, who bore him a couple kids, and everything was hunky-dory. It should be noted that Woods won his last major title in 2008. But then his personal life came crashing down when his marital infidelity was exposed the following year in 2009. Their divorce would be final in 2010.
Since then, a variety of not-so-positive things have happened to Woods. He and his long time caddy parted ways. He changed equipment and tried to "reinvent" his swing. And of course, just a few months ago, he underwent back surgery to correct a pinched nerve.
Assuming Tiger had the finest doctors and medical care available, he was finally deemed healthy and fully cleared to play.
But guess what? He's stunk it up -- BAD -- since returning to the Tour. His best finish has been 69th, and oftentimes has found himself over 20 shots out of the lead when it was over, if he made the cut to begin with. That's a bunch. Such a travesty would have been unheard of a decade ago.
And just a couple days ago at the Bridgestone Open, sponsored by those loveable people that brought us the exploding tires a while back, Tiger appeared to injure himself again. Nevermind he was already some 15 strokes behind again, and also nevermind that since he came back out on tour his driving accuracy resembles that of Hamas missiles -- let er rip and hope it lands somewhere in play.
The media is all agog as to whether Tiger will be able to play in the up-coming PGA Championship. They miss the point. Even if he receives whatever treatment is necessary and is medically cleared to do so -- he has no -- repeat NADA chance of winning it. His game's too screwed up right now.
So starting next April with the Masters, it will have been 7 years since Tiger won a major. He will be 39 years old when they gather at Augusta National. Not a geezer, but not exactly in the prime of his career either. And the young studs from the world over with some serious game themselves don't give a rat's behind about Tiger. Though they say they love to have him participating, don't be fooled. They like nothing better than than beating him by huge margins, like Tiger once did to the others himself.
Yours truly thinks 2015 will be the make it or break it year for Eldrick Tont Woods. His chances of ever catching Jack's record of 18 majors are likely slim anymore. The competition is too tough, and the fearless young studs keep on coming. Father Time dictates the kids will get even better as they come into their "prime", while Tiger's game will start to erode -- even if he's perfectly healthy.
So here's a prediction. If Tiger Woods returns in 2015 and has gotten his game together, don't write him off. Lots of guys have won majors while well into their forties.
But if another year comes and goes -- and Tiger's still stinking it up -- then I think we can pretty well stick a fork in him.
It was glorious watching him cook for quite a while -- but he'll be done.
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