REPORT : True fans believe Tiger’s got another major in him! What do you think?
On Friday night, Tiger Woods finished his play at the 2024 PGA Championship, but for the first time in a long time, the golf world greeted his performance with a collective shrug. For decades, Woods’ every move in major championships has been intensely scrutinized, from his swing to his putting stroke. In his latest comeback,…
On Friday night, Tiger Woods finished his play at the 2024 PGA Championship, but for the first time in a long time, the golf world greeted his performance with a collective shrug. For decades, Woods’ every move in major championships has been intensely scrutinized, from his swing to his putting stroke. In his latest comeback, fans have clung to fleeting moments of brilliance, hoping they might lead to another victory. However, this week was different.
Several factors contributed to the muted reaction. Scottie Scheffler’s arrest overshadowed the day’s events, and second-round tee times were delayed until mid-afternoon. By the time Woods spoke to a sparsely populated press room, eight shots off the cut line, it was nearly 8 p.m. Reflecting on his week, Woods smiled and sighed, “The week? It was a great week being here, being here at Valhalla, and unfortunately my scores did not indicate how the people treated me and how great a week I had. Unfortunately, I hit too many shots.”
Indeed, Woods’ performance was lackluster. He birdied the 18th hole to close out a second-round six-over 77, leaving him at 7 over par for the tournament, the same score as club pro sensation Michael Block. Yet, optimists found some bright spots. For 16 holes on Thursday, Woods was a relatively effortless one under par and moving well. While he didn’t appear poised to win another major, a top-20 finish seemed plausible.
However, Woods’ weaknesses were also evident. He failed to finish his opening round strongly, three-putting his final two holes. He then started his second round disastrously, going par-triple-bogey-triple and playing his first six holes in nine over par. Over the remaining 30 holes, he managed a respectable 2 under.
Woods’ week did not yield any definitive conclusions. He isn’t clearly finished, nor is he back to his former glory. He walked okay, his swing looked good, but he was rough around the edges. Woods himself acknowledged the mixed performance, noting, “I just kept making mistakes and [doing] things you can’t do, not just in tournaments but in majors especially.”
Despite the setbacks, Woods saw some positives. “Physically, yes, I am better than I was a month ago,” he said, referencing his made cut at the Masters. He remains confident his game will improve with time, though he appeared somber at the thought. Time, after all, is an ongoing challenge.
“I just need to play more,” Woods admitted. “Unfortunately I just haven’t played a whole lot of tournaments — and there aren’t a lot of tournaments on my schedule, either.” His body has limited him to a handful of events each year, yet he needs more competitive rounds to play well. It’s a paradox that complicates his comeback efforts.
Compounding the difficulty is his selective schedule, focusing on the toughest events on tour. For over three years, every tournament Woods has played has been either a major championship or one where he serves as host. The increasing difficulty of the game has only made his challenge greater.
An alternate approach could help. Participating in lower-pressure events like the John Deere Classic might benefit him, reminiscent of his successful 2018 Valspar Championship appearance. However, that was a different time, and Woods is now dealing with a different body.
Additionally, Woods has taken on more responsibilities, joining the PGA Tour’s Policy Board and the board of its for-profit wing, PGA Tour Enterprises. Balancing these commitments with his playing career is no small feat. “All three are important in their own different ways,” he noted. The player directors, including Woods, insist they can manage both roles, though the strain is evident. “We just don’t sleep much,” he admitted, describing the late-night Zoom calls and numerous emails.
This is Tiger Woods’ current reality: more administrative duties, fewer tournaments, a challenging body, and an unwavering belief that he can still improve. “Just keep fighting,” he said of his approach to the final 14 holes, despite knowing he would miss the cut. “Keep the pedal down, keep fighting, keep grinding, keep working hard at posting the best score that I can possibly post today. That’s all I can do. It’s going to be a lot, but I’m going to fight until the end.”
Fans won’t see Woods again until the U.S. Open, one of golf’s most demanding tests. Here’s hoping he can find inspiration and that everything will come together, as he hopes.