Is the Tiger We Remember Back?
Is he really back?
This question is something that I and other fans of the 14-time major champion golfer are wondering after seeing strong performances in back-to-back events. Tiger Woods recently participated in Arnold Palmer Invitational which took place from March 15th-18th. Woods looked strong all weekend and ended up finishing tied for fifth at -10 under.
The weekend prior to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods participated in the Valspar Championship. During this event, Woods had a very impressive showing and ended up finishing tied for second at -9 under, just one stroke behind winner Paul Casey.
Having not won a title since 2013 and a major since the 2008 U.S Open, we the fans are hoping these performances will be the stepping stones to Woods returning to his old form. A rough couple of years dealing with personal issues and surgeries have sidelined arguably the world’s greatest golfer. However , with the past in the past, and Woods looking healthy for the first time in a long time, were all hoping to see him fist pumping in the Sunday red, hoisting another major soon.
The fans like myself want to see the Tiger they remember and ratings prove that. With Tiger participating in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, NBC Sports saw a 136% jump in ratings from the 2017 tournament that was without Woods. It’s clear, not only is having Woods back and playing well great for the game of golf, it’s great for television.
With next month’s Master’s coming up and a green jacket on the line, it’s certain all eyes will be on Woods to see if we can really claim that “he’s back.”
Let’s face it though, whether you wish he never wins again or wishes he wins 10 more majors, the game of golf is better with Woods in the mix.
