For 30 minutes on Sunday, the golfing world had a chance to reminisce about a time not long ago where drama only existed on the course, and not TMZ.

Tiger Woods had just eagled the eighth hole to gain a share of the lead at the Masters, golf’s first major championship of the year.

“Absolutely,” Woods said when asked if he still had a chance to win, despite falling behind by seven strokes after Saturday’s disappointing two-over-par 74.

Given Woods’ personal issues off the course and the fact that he has not won a single tournament since November 2009, when he won the European Tour’s Australian Masters, everyone except Woods’ most ardent fans wrote him off.

This was the “New Tiger,” an inconsistent, much-less-intimidating shell of the “Old Tiger,” who attracted the largest galleries and captured the imaginations of millions, some of whom previously had no affinity for golf.

Woods had charisma; his theatrics on the course made you want to root for him every time. And most of the time, he won.

Growing up, I watched golf almost every time Woods played. The perfect Sunday summer afternoon was wondering alongside my dad if Tiger would climb up the leader board and steal a win or simply close out a victory.

Woods not only transcended the game of golf, he was the game of golf.

So it was no surprise golf faltered in his absence the past two years. Fair-weather golf fans turned their attention elsewhere, as newer players on the scene failed to reel in new viewers. They’re all nice guys, I’m sure, but they all promote the polite, status quo nature of golf. Woods offered a zesty contrast.

Just as he did Sunday.

With Woods birdieing his way up the leader board, the Masters became the talk of the day around the sporting world, maybe even outside of it, as people wondered if Woods could return to the winner’s circle and reclaim the green jacket.

Even though Woods’ comeback stalled on the back nine, it’s obvious he’s closer to winning than last year. But Woods is never out of the discussion, because he can hit shots no one can, such as his approach shot on the eighth hole, a 270-yard uphill blast from the fairway that rolled within eight feet.

Woods proved he still has the shots to win another tournament; it’s only a matter of time before he can string them together four days in a row.

Many people claim to be fatigued of Woods, that every golf story revolves around him. And they’re mostly correct. But it’s also true most people who care about golf, and everyone who doesn’t, only become interested once Woods enters contention.

CBS had a real snoozer on its hands entering Sunday’s final round, with the headlines of the day concerning the younger generation of golfers and the international players’ recent dominance of major tournaments.

But that was before Woods’ putter rolled back time. The cursing and tossing of the clubs ceased, the cheers became a little (nay, a lot) louder, and a familiar strut and fist pump reemerged.

Woods will always have his critics, and for good reason. But there won’t be many among golf fans. Because as this one golf fan knows, Woods needs golf, but even more importantly, golf needs Tiger.