The Return of Tiger Woods

Dillon Cheverere13 years ago

Hell yes. Sunday red is back in style, finally. I really missed that shit. Watching Tiger pull away from the field on Sunday while wearing his “Fuck you” red is something we, as sports enthusiasts, have really missed. It’s one of the greater things in modern sports. Truly dominant athletes are a rarity, so when they come along, I’m all on board with them making as much history, and destroying as many competitors, as possible. I’m talking TRULY dominant, “no one is in my league” type of athletes. That’s fucking Tiger.

After a tumultuous 30 month hiatus away from hoisting any kind of PGA Tour trophy, Tiger adds another victory to his historic career. This makes 72 PGA wins, one behind the Golden Bear. Tiger won in style, too. When many thought his off-course troubles and uncertain health of his knee would plague the rest of his career, he won going away, beating second place finisher Graeme McDowell by five strokes to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Is Tiger REALLY back, though? The Tiger I saw on Sunday sure as hell is. Clue number one was the frequency of his club twirl. You golf fans know what I’m talking about. When he twirls that club after a shot, you can bet dollars to doughnuts the result will be perfect, or at least damn close to it. He was twirling that club like a motherfucker on Sunday. His tee shots were finding the short grass. His iron play was pure. And his flat stick was on point. And maybe as important, he was just out there having fun. It was all over his face. Whether he can continue this caliber of play is still uncertain, though. I hope he continues to play like this. Golf needs it. Hell, I need it.

Whether people want to admit or not, Tiger’s victory pumped some good old-fashioned spirit back into professional golf. Yeah, the Rory McIlroy story has been cute and fun to watch. Little, quiet, freckled kid from Northern Ireland with the flawless swing overcame his late round yips problem, and eventually climbed his way to the top of the golfing world. It’s great. But there is nothing like some cocky, troubled, intimidating, morally reprehensible, dominating American badass raping and pillaging his way through a sport. Again, that’s fucking Tiger. So, what’s next for the man who made the color red a Sunday tradition?

Well, The Masters. Round one begins Thursday, April 5. Tiger’s win at Bay Hill suddenly makes the Masters much more interesting. All eyes will be on the two-headed monster of McIlroy and Woods. Will they put on the show we are all hoping to see? Will Tiger continue the pace he set in Orlando? Will his knee hold up? All make for an intriguing story line. I, for one, hope Tiger shows up in a big way in Augusta. I’m ready for America to take back the PGA. Tiger is our American badass. And The Masters, well, that’s America’s tournament.

I’m taking Tiger.