Time to get off Tiger

By Anand Dalta, Sports Journalist & Management Consultant

Time to get off Tiger’s tail? It has been nearly two decades since golf discovered the allure of Tiger Woods. Since the mid-nineties through the current era, the game and its stories have been dominated in unprecedented manner by one man. Scribes and fans alike have been drawn by his immense repertoire of skills as he circled the globe dominating every blade of grass as he set about his impressive conquests.

Unfortunately though, Woods was also drawn into believing the infallibility that decorated his prime. And he was no longer satisfied with mere conquest of courses. The trail lead home through his buzzing smartphone and suddenly the beautiful world of his creation, came crumbling down soon as his wife swung a club.

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Since time caught up with the miserable man’s misadventures with women, Woods has struggled with injuries and inconsistency. Last week, Woods coming back from a lengthy hiatus due to injury and poor form, was lackluster yet again. Playing for the first time since hiring Chris Como as his new swing coach, Woods finished last at an event hosted by him for the Tiger Woods Foundation.

The fourteen time major winner has not done anything significant on a course since the winning the US Open in 2008 on a limb. The chase to connect with Jack Nicklaus seems like an insuperable mountain after appearing to be a walk in the park for much of his journey. But despite nothing to note from his legendary bag of clubs, acres of space is still dedicated to the iconic golfer.

The body, once considered impossibly fit for a golfer, is a crumbling mess – the back and knee have troubled him the most. His soul has been scarred by his own excesses, caught up in an illusion of his own making. His once formidable team has disintegrated, any semblance of a family has been wiped away with the divorce from his wife.

While Woods dominated much of the dialogue heading into the Hero World Challenge, it was men like Jordan Spieth who walked away with honour and high praise. Woods slipped away into the shadows, consoled by the fact that he could raise a substantial sum for his foundation.

Perhaps the media is to blame too. There has been nothing in golf that sold like Tiger Woods, and everyone from writers to producers jumped happily on the wagon to milk the cow. But it is time to find new heroes and celebrate the successes of younger men, with the same passionate zeal that was accorded to Woods.

Golf is in a great spot – with talents such as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson and Adam Scott marching with confidence and purpose. It is time to get off the tail of Tiger and regale fans with meaningful tales that shall define the new generation of golfers.