Troon, Scotland. Denial. The word is simple in its meaning. For elite athletes the refusal to come to terms with actual reality.
Tiger Woods has steadfastly proclaimed he only shows up for tournaments - the few he actually plays -- because he believes he is capable of winning.
What Tiger says is one thing but the golf scores he now consistently produces say quite another.
When the 2024 golf year started Woods stated he would only play a very limited schedule and the results he has produced have been even less than that.
Tiger has played five events this year and the results have been consistent - as in consistently ineffectual.
Woods had nothing to show for his time in Scotland finishing the first 36 holes with lack luster results on rounds of 79-77. In all likelihood he will eventually finish near the bottom of those competing in the championship.
In the four major championships he made the cut in only one – The Masters. However, even at Augusta the final 36 holes were abysmal with scores of 82-77.
Woods has stated previously how few people – media included – really understand the preparation he must do even just to play. There's no doubt about that given the myriad of surgeries the 48-year-old has had over the years.
But that desire to be understood leaves out the understanding that Woods has on where he stands now on the competitive scene.
Tiger cannot hunt because he has no claws. Place an actual tiger in the jungle and ask them to hunt prey without claws and sharp teeth and the reverse more likely takes place – the tiger becomes the hunted.
Woods has constantly mentioned his improvements on how his body is functioning and while that is so – the sharpness needed for elite level golf has completely abandoned him.
For the balance of his career Tiger displayed an iron game without peer. That skillset was nowhere to be found at Royal Troon. When you can't golf your ball close enough to the hole on a consistent basis you simply can't put low number on your scorecard.
When you have an equal number of double-bogeys (3) as birdies you have an anchor around your neck that only drags you down.
Credit Tiger's tenacity in putting in the effort to play but the hard reality is that given the miles and miles of wear and tear on his body the wherewithal needed to get competitively sharper is not likely to happen.
Since 2021 he has played in only eight majors – producing four missed cuts and two withdrawals. The only ones where he played 72 holes were the 2022 and 2024 Masters and on those occasions he finished 47th and 60th respectively.
Numbers are how we measure results in sports. To paraphrase NFL Hall-of-Famer coach Bill Parcells - "you are what your golf scores say you are."
Woods took to task the comments made by Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie said on the eve of The Open that he should simply retire from playing at the elite level. Montgomerie intersected praiseworthy comments with actual reality.
“I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him,” Montgomerie said. “There is none of that now. At Pinehurst (in the recent US Open) he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think, 'What the hell is he doing? He’s coming to Troon and he won't enjoy it there either.' "
Montgomerie's prediction for Woods at Troon was spot on.
Woods still believes winning is within his reach and when he believes he can no longer do that he will exit from the stage.
Montgomerie's retort bears noting --
“Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there. There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go. Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”
Before departing from Troon Woods acknowledged he needs to play more rounds but still holds back in placing them on his schedule because of what his body is capable of doing now.
His ability to practice effectively is also constrained.
Woods did state he plans to play in his Hero World Challenge event and what he states is his "5th major" – the PNC Championship where he will team up again with his son Charlie. He also mentioned he will be "definitely" playing in the 2025 Open Championship slated for Royal Portrush.
The march of time is inevitable – even for a determined Tiger Woods. Those who remember his vintage play can only cringe at what they see now.
Some will say Woods has earned the right to play no matter what he scores. That his record of accomplishment merits that allowance. Frankly, that ship has already sailed and its failure to remain even remotely afloat should give pause to Tiger to continue with his fantasy in returning to elite level form given the clear limitations he now faces.
Can Woods play competitively when reaching 50 and becoming eligible for the Champions Tour? Yes, that is a possibility.
But the stated plan in playing just majors and thinking one can certainly return to the days of past form are gone.
Denial has now become delusional.
Related: Shane Lowry moves into lead as struggling Tiger Woods set to miss cut
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