Tiger Woods returned to the golf course at the weekend after a four-month absence due to injury. With an extremely talented group of young golfers coming through the ranks and all the inconsistencies in his game, many people believe Woods' days at the top of the sport are sadly over.
Our #360debate today is: Have injuries ended Woods' status as an elite world golfer?
James Piercy, Deputy Editor, thinks YES
Just to make one thing clear, Tiger Woods will continue to play golf for many years – in part due to his commercial commitments – but his days at the very top are sadly over.
This isn’t a reactionary statement to his unconvincing comeback at the Hero World Challenge, which was always likely to happen after such a long time out. It’s more concerning an accumulation of injuries, as a result of being a professional athlete for 18 years, coupled with the establishment of so many other players that leaves his position among the world elite questionable, to say the least.
Breaking down the injuries; of the last 10 instances where he has suffered injuries, going back to March 2012, eight have been related to his back, with the other two being his Achilles tendon and a left elbow strain. Not wanting to state the obvious, but a healthy back is as crucial to a golfer as their putter or scorecard.
It remains to be seen just how effective the surgery has been but given his turns 39 on December 30, the chances of a complete recovery, especially to a player whose game is based on power as well as precision, is unlikely.
Taking the Hero World Challenge in isolation, it’s been his short game that has drawn the most gasps from the galleries. It could be a blip but injuries dictate that Tiger will have to rein in his driving, placing extra emphasis on those particular skills. Can he, at his age, redefine and remould his game?
Then there are the elements beyond his control, namely: Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Martin Kaymer. All major winners over the last three years who will be competing for golf’s biggest prizes for at least the next 8-10 years. By then Woods will be approaching his 50s.
When you factor in Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Hideki Matsuyama and Jason Day as a group of twentysomethings who are extremely unlikely to end their careers major-less, you’re looking at an exceptionally strong group Tiger, with all his inconsistencies at this stage of his career, is going to have to get past.
Joy Chakravarty, Dubai Editor, says NO
If his back holds up, I have no doubt Tiger Woods can still rack up a few more major wins.
And the signs are looking ominous after his first three rounds at the Hero World Challenge. His game is rusty, but he has not winced even once, and he has given the ball a good wallop so far.
What was surprisingly poor in his comeback tournament was his short game, especially his chipping. If not for the eight fluffed chips – plus the three three-putts and the fact that he did not make even a single putt from outside 12 feet in the three days – Woods would have been at least 11-under par instead of even-par. That would have tied him for the fourth place in the 18-player field.
Woods is just 38 and age really isn’t a barrier for him. After all, the man whose major record he is chasing, Jack Nicklaus, won the last of his 18 at the age of 46. Off those, the last three came after he turned 39.
His biggest challenge now is his own health, and the quality of field he is up against.
When Woods won the last of his 14 majors – at the 2008 US Open – he was literally playing golf on one knee that week. But given how much force a player exerts on his back, it is one area of the body that needs to be in good condition to play the game at the highest level.
There was a time when he was head and shoulders above the competition. That’s no longer the case and guys like Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth have bridged that gap.
Off the four majors played during a season, I am sure Woods would continue to compete in at least two of them – the Open Championship and the Masters – for many more years to come. Given the set-up of the golf course, these are two tournaments where experience and temperament have an upper hand over sheer talent and youth.
Having achieved a closure in many areas of his personal life, Woods is at a better place mentally. It’s now just a case of getting fit, and I have no doubt he will be back in the winner’s circle.
