The 2013 Masters was a strange, compelling golf tournament that will be remembered for a number of reasons. You can think of Adam Scott’s thrilling playoff victory over Angel Cabrera, or the successful debut of Guan Tianlang, a 14-year-old Chinese kid who may soon revolutionize the sport.
But chances are you’ll also remember Tiger Woods’ illegal drop during Friday’s second round and the controversy that ensued.
I doubt that Woods himself will think of any of these things. He’ll remember that he came up short again in pursuit of his 15th major championship victory. He’ll know that the penalty for that illegal drop (two strokes) would only erase half of his four-stroke margin of defeat, and that this face leaves himself as the only party to blame.
And he’ll have to wonder whether or not he can accomplish what so many still think is inevitable — if he can break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories and take the title of greatest golfer ever.
On the whole, 2013 has provided Tiger with plenty of reason for excitement, as he has won three tournaments and reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. Meanwhile off the course he’s settled down with a new girlfriend, olympic skier Lindsey Vonn. Everything pointed toward an end to Woods’ five-year major championship drought at Augusta, the course he’s conquered in four previous Masters wins. Instead, he came up short yet again.
It’s still too early to fully panic about Woods’ future, but there’s reason to question if he can still surpass Nicklaus. At 37, Woods is approaching the tail-end of most golfers’ most productive years. Theoretically, though, he has plenty of time left — Nicklaus won his 15th major at age 38, and someone with Woods’ physical gifts and workout regimen can compete at the top level for longer than the average pro.
But the ridiculous power Woods generates could, at any time, prove his undoing. Woods has had at least four operations on his left knee, the area of the body he funnels the most force toward with each swing. He may not suffer another injury as serious as the torn ACL he famously played with while winning the 2008 U.S. Open, but there’s certainly potential for arthritis or other forms of wear and tear to slow Woods down.
Then you have to consider Woods’ mental state. When he first stormed onto the sports scene, Tiger’s appeal stemmed largely from not only his ability but also his charisma. That wide, pearly-white smile that once frequently flashed across his face has now largely disappeared.
Maybe that’s because he’s taken the role of villain to heart; maybe it’s just genuine frustration with his on-course exploits. Either way, it seems that the sport has become a chore, that Woods no longer enjoys the game as much as he once did.
While anger can be a great motivator in other sports, it’s not suited to golf, a game where each delicate five-foot putt counts as much as a 350-yard drive. The finesse Woods once had around the greens seemed to desert him this weekend, as he never put together a run to challenge the leaders; to win more majors, he’ll have to rediscover that touch.
Today, Tiger Woods is probably swinging away on the practice range, wanting to disprove the doubters more than ever before. He has five major victories to go — an all-time great career in — and only a few years to do so. When you consider his identity, you can’t bet against him. But when you consider everything that’s happened over the past five years — of which this Masters weekend was just the latest disappointing episode — you can’t be that sure anymore.