To say Tiger Wood has not merited a great name in the world of golf would be an understatement, but considering his future in the game, his answer to Charlie Rose, who asked if he had accepted not reaching Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. “I’ve accepted I’m going to get more,” Woods said.
Such words raised expectations, but Woods seems not concerned with failure, but has not being meeting expectations lately.
The American professional golfer might need a miracle or some rather extra ordinary ability and effort to make his way back to his peak as the number one golfer in the world. The major factors for this speculation are his health coupled with his age. Since his last surgery, Woods has found it difficult to get back in form for his peak in the game.
Steve Stricker, the captain of Presidents Cup said Woods continues to battle ongoing back problems following multiple surgeries.
“He’s working hard at it, but I don’t think he’s doing that well right now physically,” Stricker said. “Obviously he has to get his body right first before he can compete. Then it’s going to take some time I think for him to come back believing in his swing and trusting in his ability again.”
Woods has not played since he withdrew from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, 2017 after shooting an opening-round 77 and subsequently cancelled his planned starts at the Genesis Open in California and the Honda Classic in Florida, citing ongoing back spasms.
Watching Woods tee it up in Dubai on television, Stricker could tell his friend wasn’t in peak form.
“Just the way he was walking didn’t quite look right. He was walking really gingerly,” Stricker added. “It didn’t really look physically like he was ready to play.”
Age is one thing we are yet to have a way with, it catches up with all of us, one could say it is natural to age and we know that the more we try to cheat nature the more it tells on us.
We see athletes who perform at old ages and those who retire old, we have even seen those who come back after retiring, the likes of Michael Jordan.
The age range of old athletes ranges from mid and late thirties to as old as 106 years old Stanislaw Kowalski the Polish Masters athletes who completed 100 meters in 34.50 among other field events. Is it not rather ridiculous to compare this record to that of the young and vibrant athletes.
It has been undoubtedly proven that every sport has its age range and every athlete has his peak, which occurs at a particular age range (each sport has its unique range). Beyond any doubt, there are various factors that can affect an athlete performance, from age to emotions, to physical fitness, health to financial issues and so on.
The gravity of such factors can mean the end for an athlete, but we have seen athletes recover from blows on their career, but very few return to their peak and even fewer recover from major health issues but age has being an insurmountable hindrance for every athlete, for as long as you play you must retire one day.
Golf is not an exemption as it is a physical game; in the history of the sport its oldest athlete is still Gary Player who retired at the age of 73 in 2009.
VERDICT
The effect of ageing coupled with the Grand slammers health condition leaves speculator with very little hope for the possibility of the hero getting back to his peak, knowing that at age 41, it is very difficult to have a full recovery from major back injuries. Although, there is an on going debate in the media on the speculation of Brian Wacker of Golf Digest (that woods is ‘unlike’ to play the coming Masters).
This speculation has being disputed by Mark Steinberg, Woods agent, but whatever end the speculation lies the true question in the heart of everyone is will Tiger woods be able to make it back to his peak days as the world best golfer? Will he beat Jack Nicklaus’s record?
Hezron Atunde
