What ought to have been Tiger’s victory lap by some means obtained derailed

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The phrases had been spoken just a few months in the past, within the aftermath of lacking a reduce, however what Tiger Woods mentioned then appears all of the extra applicable now.

“I am the Masters champion and 43 years outdated and that is a fairly good accomplishment,” he mentioned.

It is a disgrace it wasn’t acknowledged as such again then.

Positive, Woods shares a few of the blame for the expectations that adopted his unlikely triumph on the Masters, the place he claimed a fifth inexperienced jacket and 15th main title, finishing one among sports activities’ extra exceptional comebacks — coming back from a number of again surgical procedures, together with a spinal fusion that modified his life.

There was instantly speak about matching Sam Snead’s PGA Tour report for victories. About being a taking part in captain on the U.S. Presidents Cup workforce. About returning to No. 1 on the earth. About renewing the chase of Jack Nicklaus’ main championship report.

Merely appreciating the accomplishment may need been higher.

One thing went amiss from the time Woods drove down Magnolia Lane in triumph late on April 14 to the time he hit his first tee shot at Bethpage Black for the PGA Championship on Might 16. As a result of he has not been the identical golfer since leaving the hallowed grounds of Augusta Nationwide.

Hypothesis, in fact, has lined the gamut, a few of it bordering on ridiculous, questioning his work ethic and need.

However the concern that has been behind everybody’s thoughts from the primary spherical he performed within the Bahamas in late 2017 is seemingly hitting dwelling: There are solely so many swings left in that physique, and there have been sure to be setbacks.

And Woods is coping with one now.

A withdrawal from the Northern Belief on Friday hours earlier than he was to play his second spherical at Liberty Nationwide got here as a shock, solely as a result of Woods confirmed little signal of misery in an opening-round 75.

However the clues of the previous weeks and months pointed to a golfer working at far lower than full well being. Woods mentioned as a lot, noting the “stiffness” that’s a part of his on a regular basis life.

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And but it was there for all of us to see and surprise about, from Bethpage to Muirfield Village to Pebble Seashore to Royal Portrush and now throughout the shadow of the Statue of Liberty.

Who is aware of if one thing occurred to make it worse whereas Woods was on a two-week trip to Thailand following the U.S. Open. However the issues have appeared much more pronounced since capturing a final-round 67 at Pebble Seashore after which exhibiting up sluggish and groggy and by no means fairly in sync in Northern Eire.

Woods visibly winced on a number of tee photographs there, then could not make it by way of the pro-am right here on Wednesday, electing to be cautious. Now he is out with what he mentioned is a gentle indirect harm, not having dominated out subsequent week’s BMW Championship however leaving loads of purpose to surprise why he’d even hassle.

“I’ve mentioned prior to now that years in the past he simply would have continued to play by way of all of this,” mentioned Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg. “If he had the identical mentality he had years and years in the past, he would not be taking part in golf in any respect proper now. He mentioned it the opposite day, that is the brand new regular.”

Steinberg kind of confirmed what most of us believed: Woods is having bother competing on the highest degree as a result of he isn’t been in a position to put within the time essential to be aggressive.

That was clear on Thursday when Woods’ 75 was due extra to sloppiness than unhealthy golf. Sure, he made a double bogey, however he additionally missed some routine photographs, short-iron approaches that ought to have yielded birdie makes an attempt slightly than bogeys, a bladed sand wedge, some poor placing.

The course was taking part in too simple for Woods to shoot that rating, even on a foul day. So being rusty definitely performed into the struggles, doubtless as a consequence of a scarcity of follow. And that is all all the way down to harm or stiffness or some mixture that saved him from spending the time essential to work on his sport.

Steinberg mentioned he senses a degree of frustration out of Woods, who has handled this a lot within the final a number of years, thwarting full seasons in 2016 and 2017. However Woods additionally may need a greater big-picture grip on the state of affairs than those that can solely speculate on what is going on.

“He appreciates the truth that he is nonetheless out right here,” Steinberg mentioned. “To get again out right here allowed him to win the Tour Championship. Allowed him to win his 15th main. He is pissed off, however appreciative. He is taking what his physique offers him proper now.”

Steinberg mentioned subsequent week’s BMW Championship has not been dominated out, and that whether or not he performs or not, he’ll have a prolonged down interval following the Tour Championship previous to taking part in a PGA Tour occasion in Japan in late October.

Woods deserves higher than having to cope with accidents once more. No matter the way it all went down this yr, the spotlight was going to be the Masters victory, and he might — and may nonetheless — spend the remainder of his profession reveling in that win.

He acknowledged it again in Might when he missed the reduce on the PGA, discovering perspective within the “fairly good accomplishment” a month earlier on the Masters.

That feat solely appears greater and higher now.