Is Tiger back?

[Neilds]

All the media seem to be going mad about Tiger being back but is he? Do people think he is really back when he finishes 23 shots behind the leader, and almost last (of those who made the cut? Should he just accpet facts and retire gracefully, otherwise youngsters just coming to the game will be wondering what all the fuss is about an old guy limping and hacking it round the course?

 

[RichA]

All the media seem to be going mad about Tiger being back but is he? Do people think he is really back when he finishes 23 shots behind the leader, and almost last (of those who made the cut? Should he just accpet facts and retire gracefully, otherwise youngsters just coming to the game will be wondering what all the fuss is about an old guy limping and hacking it round the course?

He made the cut. Plenty of fully fit younger guys did not. Nobody makes the weekend rounds without earning it.
A large part of my enjoyment of watching majors over the last few decades has been seeing legends like Nicklaus, Watson and Palmer playing in the final weekend while past their prime. Long may Tiger continue.

 

[SteveW86]

He won’t play again until the Open

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Probably not, and never will be.

He may have finished near the bottom of those that made the cut. But just look at the number of current top 50 players he beat.

Harris English wasn’t playing, yet he went to Augusta just to see Tiger play.

I think they know how good he is.

 

[Fabia999]

He'll never to be back to Tiger level but that was never going to happen, he's 46 years old now. He's shown that he can still play golf to a very high standard but lives with the Tiger Woods name so he will always be judged massively.

I can't wait to see him at the Open. I have Saturday tickets so I hope he makes the cut.

 

[Orikoru]

What constitutes back? He was back in a literal sense because he was there, playing golf. I think this Masters came too soon for him, but he's said he's going to play in the Open which is three more months away. I'm sure his legs will be a bit stronger by then. He probably won't win, but then we all said that before the 2019 Masters. Who even knows with this guy? If he turns up he always has a chance, however small.

He has basically come out and said he's not going to do the full season though, so obviously not back in that sense. Would be hilarious if he just played the majors with an exemption each year, but still actually competed despite playing no golf the rest of the year.

 

[Mandofred]

Still the focus of too much attention. He is a good golfer. The last I checked.....not the source of all that is good in the world.

 

[Ethan]

Augusta is a course that experienced players often play well - Couples, Langer etc. Woods obviously knows it very well.

He started well but after a couple of days looked like an old man.

I think Tiger is looking to retire from competitive golf on a relative high. St Andrews is not as hard a walk at Augusta and he can get the ball round. A few pictures on the Swilcan Bridge and he might be done.

 

[Neilds]

Augusta is a course that experienced players often play well - Couples, Langer etc. Woods obviously knows it very well.

He started well but after a couple of days looked like an old man.

I think Tiger is looking to retire from competitive golf on a relative high. St Andrews is not as hard a walk at Augusta and he can get the ball round. A few pictures on the Swilcan Bridge and he might be done.

Think you could be right, retiring after the Open could be the best thing to happen. People won’t want to see him hacking it around and struggling for a few more years.

 

[Barking_Mad]

I was never a big Tiger fan growing up (always wanted someone else to win!) and I've got little sympathy for what he did to himself, but I can't help but admire his determination to recover and his latent ability to play the game. He's not hit a ball in competition for 12 months, a messed up leg and he still beats:

Adam Scott
Tyrell Hatton
Jordan Speith
Brooks Koepka
Justin Rose
Gary Woodland
Matthew Wolfe

6 months later and he might have beaten a few more. You only have to look at the turnover of players in the number 1 position over the years to see how incredible his game was for so long. Golf is really hard and he made it look easy.

 

[Deleted member 23270]

Washed up has been. He'll be drinking meths under a bridge soon ?

 

[Imurg]

This Open aside, Tiger won't tee it up unless he thinks he can win.
The Masters may have confirmed to him that, unless his lower half health improves dramatically, he probably can't
Added to that the fact he won't play a full schedule limits his ability to be "match fit".?
It wouldn't surprise me if St Andrews becomes his swansong...I don't think even Tiger can genuinely compete in Majors without other competitive events.
Unless he regains his lower half strength..and that's a big ask after what he's been through.
I know it's Tiger but there aren't many 46 year old competing on the PGA Tour for a reason.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Washed up has been. He'll be drinking meths under a bridge soon ?

At least he won't have to go hunting for the hole, they will come to him and do the work

 

[Golfnut1957]

A fit Tiger, age 46, would definitely give the current crop a run for their money. But he's not a fit Tiger.

Watching him yesterday limping up to his mother after he'd finished was painful to watch. He said in an interview yesterday that the few people who had seen his leg were aghast.

I know he is Tiger, but that sort of pain would make anyone think twice.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

St Andrews is a flat goat track compared to Augusta, so will be much easier on him. With another few months of rehab and practice he could have a better result.

 

[Foxholer]

St Andrews is a flat goat track compared to Augusta, so will be much easier on him. With another few months of rehab and practice he could have a better result.

I'm not certain he'll qualify - though I hope he does. His condition seemed manageable for the 1st 2 rounds, unlike in the 3rd and 4th.
Unlike The Masters, it's not an Invitation tournment and past Open winners don't qualify automatically.

PS. St Andrews is indeed very flat - and some ('heathens') DO consider it a goat track, even when compared to courses not as manicured as Augusta!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

He is back as much as I can see him playing The Masters each year if fit and also The Open each year - the US Open and US PGA are different those as the courses will be a vastly harder set up

 

[Imurg]

I'm not certain he'll qualify - though I hope he does. The first 2 rounds seemed bearable, unlike th 3rd and 4th.
Unlike The Masters, it's not an Invitation tournment and past Open winners don't qualify automatically.

I thought previous winners can play up until they're 60...plus a Masters victory in the last 5 years gets him an exemption too..

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I'm not certain he'll qualify - though I hope he does. The first 2 rounds seemed bearable, unlike th 3rd and 4th.
Unlike The Masters, it's not an Invitation tournment and past Open winners don't qualify automatically.

Give the rules a check

“
The current criteria for an exemption is governed by the following rules:[4]

1. Previous Open Champions aged 60 or under on the final day of the tournament (Each year a number of past champions choose not to compete).”

 

[Deleted member 3432]

I'm not certain he'll qualify - though I hope he does. The first 2 rounds seemed bearable, unlike th 3rd and 4th.
Unlike The Masters, it's not an Invitation tournment and past Open winners don't qualify automatically.

He's exempt until he turns 60.