Justin Thomas ‘friggin’ blown away’ by Tiger’s round.
He played 18, and one of the men who was with him, a friend and a critic—as well as a major champion, Justin Thomas had this to say about the return of Tiger Woods; “I was friggin ‘blown away.”
If that borders on the obscene, well what Woods has done borders on the amazing.
Ten months ago surgeons were inserting a rod into his right leg and attaching his right foot to his ankle with pins and screws.
Ten months ago after that rollover auto accident a sheriff’s deputy in Southern California said Tiger was lucky he’s alive.
Ten months ago the question was whether Woods would walk normally again, never stand and swing a golf club
But Saturday Tiger walked and played golf and awed Thomas along with most of us.
Sure he rode the course in a cart, but when he stepped out to hit a ball it was without a limp or without hesitation
It wasn’t the Masters. Wasn’t even a normal PGA Tour tournament, but rather the PNC Championship, an annual father-son (or for the Korda family, father-daughter) event at the Ritz-Carlton course in Orlando, Fla.
Two rounds, scramble format (each person hits and then the decision is made which ball to play. Entrants from 86-years old (Gary Player, teamed with grandson, Jordan) to 11 years old.
Thomas and his dad, Mike a teaching pro with a bad back, are defending champions, but everyone involved knows the idea is to have a good time. And usually nothing else is important.
Except this time. Except when Woods, who hadn’t played in competition for 263 days, makes –well, Peter Jacobsen said he wouldn’t describe it as a comeback although that’s exactly what it is.
So you don’t particularly care about golf. And you’ve been on Tiger ever since those escapades with the women. No matter, Woods remains transcendent, up there in the sporting galaxy with Tom Brady, Steph Curry, LeBron James and Bill Belichick.
Tiger again played with his son, Charlie, who now is 12, has a swing much like his father—not from Tiger’s instruction but from Charlie’s replication—and loves to practice.
The Woods team is at a best-ball 10-under (Stewart and Reagan Cink are 13—13 under but the only story really is Tiger. “Welcome to the most anticipated 36 holes in golf,” Dan Hicks told the Golf Channel audience at the start of a telecast which subsequently was switched to NBC.
An exaggeration, indeed, but quite acceptable knowing the circumstances., Hicks later said tournament sponsors probably could have sold 20,000 tickets, but there wasn’t room on what basically is a resort course.
The man is not merely a sports figure, he’s a 21st century version of a Greek tragedy whose struggles have only magnified his presence.
Praise him—as most do—or belittle him, you can’t ignore him. His past sins? America has forgiven others guilty of worse transgretions. Woods will be 46 the end of December, the age of respectability.
After the round Woods—as any parent—talked more about his son than himself, explaining when questioned that Charlie tends to emulate all the moves of his father. But those were acquired, not taught. “I’m his father,” said Woods, “not his coach.”
One learns by practicing. “The grind of the game,” said Tiger, “from Hogan to Trevino to me.”
Lee Trevino, playing the PNG with one of his offspring], won two U.S. Opens and two British Opens. He’s now 82.
As we know, Tiger has won 15 majors, the last one the 2019 Masters, a surprise—as would be any Tour victory, now, major or not.
“He made some quality golf shots out there,” Thomas said about the round Saturday. I’m happy for him,”
So is all of golf. A Tiger revival would be just what the game needs.