By BRIAN SCHMITZ
Tribune News Service
Well, it could be worse for Tiger Woods. Really worse.
“I’m not going to die in my sport,” he said.
Tiger’s death as a major-title contender might or might not be exaggerated. He was talking about the dangers of downhill skiing, not the dangers of a downhill putt.
Woods and his girlfriend and champion skier, Lindsey Vonn, each is making heralded comebacks from injuries in their sports.
This past weekend Vonn won a World Cup event while Tiger finished tied for last Sunday in his Hero World Challenge, a whopping 26 shots behind runaway winner Jordan Spieth.
“I was just trying to shoot 80,” Tiger cracked.
We’ve seen Woods boil over and curse on the course. At least he kept his sense of humor _ he might need it _ during what Vonn probably would call a training run. This was more like a rehab assignment for Woods, who was playing his first semi-serious golf since August.
He shot 77-70-69-72 _ even par. The best thing Woods could take away was that this back held up fine, especially off the tee, where he has struggled. Last season he played just eight events after back surgery.
“To come out and not play in any kind of pain is great progress,” he said, “and to be able to hit the ball as hard as I want to really without flinching.”
Tiger must deal with the freakish pain caused by his “awful” short game.
Chipping was hazardous to his scoring. He flubbed two more pitch shots in the final round like a weekend duffer, running his total to nine for the week. It was like Michael Jordan shooting airballs. He watched balls land short of the hill-top greens and comically roll back at his feet, although Bubba Watson experienced the same torture.
There was no revelation from Tiger, only rust. No matter the obstacles, Tiger’s past iconic brilliance can’t help but conjure the must-watch promise of an instant sports classic; it’s what brought out the large crowds at his old Isleworth stomping grounds.
But we’ve accepted the fact that the days of him bowling us over with majestic miracles are gone. The evidence is no stronger than his six-year victory drought in majors.
“I’ve been in this position before,” Woods said. “You know, I’ve been hurt. I’ve been out of it for a long time. I’ve had to make my run to get back there. You got to build up to it. I got some time.”
Turning 39 this month, he’ll need to drive it straighter more often and play smarter against the young long-bombing bucks if he’s to pass Jack Nicklaus’ record for major championships and unanimously earn the greatest-ever title.
Woods didn’t raise any expectations at his charity tournament, but Spieth certainly did. The kid fittingly embracing the figurine of a tiger atop the trophy reminded Woods of his past glory _ and of his current competition.
With a 2013 PGA Tour win and five runner-up finishes last season, the 21-year-old Spieth is bidding to be the latest candidate to join No. 1 Rory McIIroy in the chase to become Tiger’s heir.
Spieth crushed an elite 18-player field, breaking Woods’ tournament record for margin of victory (seven shots) set in 2007. He beat runner-up Henrik Stenson by 10 with an absurd 26-under par. He led by seven strokes Saturday, making the final round a coronation.
“I knew I had to win this week because I’m moving into a new house next week,” Spieth joked.
Tiger Woods wants to get close to what he once was. The question is whether he can get close to what Jordan Spieth is.
