Tiger Woods emerged at the Deutsche Bank Championship this past week in Boston.
Unfortunately for Tiger — and for golf — his presence was a publicity appearance on behalf of the Tiger Woods Foundation, and not to actually compete out on the links. Woods, a two-time Fed-Ex Cup champion, failed to qualify for the tournament.
Ever since that fateful night in November 2009, not much has gone Woods’ way, on and off the course.
He hasn’t sniffed a major victory since his dramatic 2008 U.S. Open playoff win. What’s more is that he hasn’t had a PGA Tour win since the BMW Championship on Sept. 13, 2009.
And his bum left knee continues to plague him.
Most importantly, the rest of the Tour is no longer scared of Woods. There once was a time where a sensible man wouldn’t take Tiger against the field on any day, in any tournament.
That time has passed. What was once Woods’ greatest asset in competition — fear — has evaporated.
He can no longer demand respect when he steps on the course. He can no longer mash mammoth drives with an aging left knee.
Tiger is no longer Tiger.
He is now the unimposing, unintimidating Eldrick Woods.
Reach the columnist at kjnewma2@asu.edu
