Tiger Woods’ 2019 not what anyone had hoped for

When the 2018 PGA Tour season ended, there was a euphoria sweeping golf. Tiger Woods had just won the PGA Tour Championship and expectations were high that he could return to his previous lofty heights. Despite the back surgeries, poor play, and countless personal problems, Woods’ return had lifted golf, and fans had taken notice. With the PGA Tour 2019 nearing its end, golf fans can use the best betting apps to wager on their favourite golfer for this year’s PGA Tour Championship. 

Unfortunately, the hope of Woods regaining his past form has almost dwindled. His Masters win offered us a brief moment of hope that maybe it would be a great summer of vintage Tiger Woods golf. But it was meant to be. 

Now, the PGA Tour 2019 is ready for its last two tournaments of the year. The BMW Championship followed by the Tour Championship. Woods will be on hand for the BMW Championship in Chicago, but depending on his performance, may not get to defend his Tour title in Atlanta the following week.

The Road to Atlanta

Woods hasn’t played a full PGA Tour schedule. He has picked and chosen his tournaments to give his body the chance to rest as much as possible. Despite strategically missing tournaments, Woods has looked fatigued ever since winning at Augusta in April. 

The golf great is currently 43-years old, he will be 44 in December, and years of playing golf, along with back surgeries, are showing. Woods withdrew from the Northern Trust tournament a week ago due to an oblique injury. It is possible the injury could prevent Woods from playing the BMW Championship.

At this point after a long PGA Tour season, Woods needs rest to recover. He won his first major tournament since 2008, which shows Woods can still play well on his day. But consistency is not in Woods’ locker anymore. He struggles to bounce back from one gruelling golf tournament to the next. 

Don’t Call it a Comeback

Since winning the Tour Championship in 2018, Woods has been on a “comeback”. It isn’t the first time Woods has impressed golf fans enough to warrant the comeback tag. Rather than a comeback, however, this seems to just be Woods’ career nowadays. He is a player capable of winning tournaments but lacks the consistency of yesteryear that made him (possibly) the greatest golfer of all-time. 

Woods’ win at the Tour Championship in 2018 was his first tournament victory in five years. It spawned countless articles to proclaim Woods was “back” or “on the comeback trail”. It was too soon to make those claims. 

If Woods fails to reach the Tour Championship in Atlanta, will it diminish his win at the event last year or victory at the Masters? Not at all; but believing the old Tiger Woods will return is a foolish thing to consider.

Unfortunately, golf needs Woods to be successful. Television ratings and public interest increase for events when he plays. Although new stars have been born with Woods out of the limelight, golf still needs him. A good rest to finish out 2018 should do Woods a world of good and next season, he could win one or two events. He will, however, not return to the Woods of old.