"To be or not to be. That is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing, end them".
Those immortal words were uttered by Lord Hamlet in the Shakespearean play. Things didn't work out so well for Hamlet in the end. Something about a poison tipped sword, if I remember correctly. The Bard of Avon seemed to be big on poison in many of his tragedies -- but I digress.
Yet the above quote could also be applied to one Tiger Woods when it comes to playing in the Masters tournament this year, which starts next week.
Should he play or should he not play? An interesting question indeed.
Over the years, Eldrick Tont Woods has certainly been regarded as nobility amongst many golf fans (and the media), and few would doubt he's suffered his fair share of slings and arrows while amassing his outrageous fortune along the way. Should he take up arms against the sea of troubles that Augusta National annually presents to the world's best golfers?
On the surface, it would seem to be a no-brainer. After all, what golfer would turn down the chance to play at the fabled course for likely the most coveted prize in the game every year? It's not about the money -- though it's a lot -- it's about the green jacket and the "immortality" that comes with winning one. The Masters isn't an "open". The field is reserved for the best of the best, primarily former winners of other tournaments. A tournament of the elite.
Sure, Tiger already has four such jackets in a closet somewhere, and his place in the golfing Hall of Fame has long since been assured. But you just KNOW he would like nothing better than to add a fifth.
And hey, getting an invite to the Masters certainly has its perks. Tiger can fly in on his Lear or Gulfstream, pal around in the exclusive room reserved for former champions, enjoy the finest cuisine prepared by world class chefs, and play at least two rounds of golf on a magnificent course -- all for free. Does anybody really think he has to pay for his own jet fuel? Please. That's what sponsors are for.
But those two rounds of golf just might be the problem. It's no big secret that, after turning in the most dominant decade in the history of the game, winning everything in sight and being #1 for seemingly forever -- Woods' downfall has been just as spectacular as his original ascension.
Though once thought to be a shoo-in to surpass Jack Nicklaus' 18 majors mark, Tiger hasn't won one since 2008. Seven long years. Given Father Time and the never-ending string of fearless young guns with serious games themselves that keep popping up the world over, that window is now all but closed. It's not going to happen.
It's also not exactly classified information that Tiger's game has not only fallen off, but totally gone in the dumpster of late. Forget being in the hunt to win on Sunday. He wasn't even coming close to making the cut. It got so bad as to be embarrassing, even to Woods. All the sponsors, nostalgic media hypesters, and legions of Tiger groupies were of no help. When you stink -- you stink -- and credit to Woods for finally admitting it.
So he took a sabbatical from the Tour to work on his game. Nobody knows for sure exactly what he's been up to of late. But travelling all the way to Europe to watch his girlfriend ski down a mountain, only to wind up getting a tooth knocked out, of all things, had to be a bit embarrassing itself. Let's just say Tiger has seen better days.
What also remains a mystery is whether Tiger has been able to re-invent his game in private while the other guys on Tour travel hither and yon playing in various tournaments. Like the old Memorex or Clairol commercials, only Woods knows for sure if he's the real deal again and worthy to compete in the Masters.
Best case scenario is he comes back out of seclusion and tears up the field at the Masters.
Pretty good scenario is he's in the hunt on Sunday, even if he doesn't win it.
Mediocre scenario is he at least makes the cut and gets to play on the weekend.
Worst case scenario is he's 20-some shots back after Friday and, after the mandatory Tiger press conference (old media habits are hard to break and some things die hard despite their irrelevance), Eldrick disappears back to Florida again to do whatever it is he does.
But here's the thing. Tiger knows if his game is Masters worthy. Hopefully. Would he show up to play and enjoy the perks and press coverage anyway, even if he knew in his golf brain his game was still nowhere near being able to compete at the elite level?
Though yours truly surmises the above-mentioned best case scenario is a long shot at best -- here's at least wishing him the "pretty good" one.
But if he totally bombs out at a course he's oh-so familiar with and you just know he's been preparing for over the last couple months -- then perhaps a harsher assessment would be warranted.
Stick a fork in him. It's over.
Guess we'll all find out next week. Tick, tick, tick......
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