Despite only finishing ninth of an 18-strong field at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Tiger Woods’ fans saw enough in his latest comeback to suggest that the former world number one may yet hit the heights again.
Tiger actually led for a short time in the second round but fell away in the third round, shooting 75, after failing to cope with a strong breeze. Of course, we all want to see one of golfing’s greats challenging the best again – but is one invitational tournament at the very start of the new season enough evidence to suggest that all problems are behind him?
Woods was making his first competitive appearance since February at Albany and making only his fourth start in a tournament of any kind since August 2015. It is great that the 41-year-old, who has undergone several operations on his back, appears to be playing without pain again. But there is a world of difference playing a friendly tournament on the Bahamas against thriving in the pressure cooker that is the Masters so I can’t see much value in the best 25/1 with William Hill for Tiger to win at Augusta in the spring. The game has moved on and a new younger, fitter breed of golfer now holds centre stage. It’s more than nine years since Woods won the last of his 14 Major titles and almost 13 years since he last won the Masters.
He’s not won a tournament of any description in four years and is now at an age when powers begin to wane. His short game in the Bahamas was average at best and, while practice will improve that, he didn’t stand out as a future Masters or Open winner. While Augusta in April will almost certainly be on Woods’ agenda, a more realistic target might be Sam Snead’s record 82 victories on the US PGA Tour. Tiger is currently only three behind another of golfing’s legendary figures and, if he can keep fit for the next few years, there will be plenty of opportunities to increase his tally. However, 888sport are offering 11/2 that Tiger Woods wins any Major in 2018 – he needs four more of those to match the record of Jack Nicklaus.
