Return of the Tiger
Tiger Woods claimed his first title for 749 days last night with a narrow one-shot victory over Zach Johnson in the Chevron World Challenge last night, but is he back?
Detractors could say that the fact that the field was only 18 runners and it was on a course where he had won previously multiple times is no sign of a return to full form. In his last two tournaments he has led at halfway and whilst at his peak he seemed to crush a dejected field from this point he has posted a poor third round in both. In Australia, a poor third round put him behind a host of top players from which he could not recover on day 4 but this time it was different.
His usual display of wayward tee shots was not severely punished and the manner of his victory will be the thing that gives most encouragement to his fans. Trailing by 1 with two holes to play, he finished with consecutive birdies to edge out Johnson on the 72nd hole.
What does this mean for 2012 and the world of golf and golf betting too? The sport is a better place for having him back for sure, TV ratings will rise, sponsors will roll back in and interest to see if he can return to his dominant ways will be the subtext at the start of the 2012 PGA. Top players such as Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood who have been making hay whilst Tiger has been ‘away’ after what television commentators ludicrously referred to as his ‘traffic accident’ will be eager to go head to head and prove their worth. They have been winning and performing consistently whilst he has been struggling-both Westwood and McIlroy won this weekend too- but it is Tiger who will now be back getting all the headlines.
Even with this win he is ‘only’ back to No.21 in the world but has obviously shortened up for all next 2012 majors and is predictably favourite for them all. The notion that he will return to his dominant best is highly unlikely with a new breed of younger players who do not fear him or capitulate at the sight of his name on the leaderboard as the likes of Davis Love, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie and a whole generation of US Tour professionals did. It would be a huge leap of faith to steam into him after only one win in an 18 runner event but it seems the idea that he has ‘gone’ is also now incorrect.
As usual with reasoned analysis the most likely outcome is somewhere between two extremes and polar views. Expect Tiger to re-take his place at the top table of world golf but this time will not be dining alone in his own VIP room. Either way his next appearance at Dubai early next year will be highly anticipated.
