Twistity Sports Exclusive: Tiger’s Back (Literally)

 
Devotees of Catch-22 will remember the ridiculously-named Major Major. And sometimes that must be the very sound reverberating in Tiger Woods’ head. Major major major major. As in, When is he going to win another major?

The quest, interrupted in late March by back surgery, resumes this week at a favorite Woods’ haunt – Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland – for the Quicken Loans National. This is decidedly not a major (not even in Bethesda) but Woods’ comeback makes it a seminal moment.

The bad back kept Woods out of the Masters, the British Open and the U.S. Open, so his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus as the all-time winner of majors with 18 has been at a standstill. Actually, that’s been the case since 2008, when he last won the U.S. Open.

He has won plenty of tournaments since, including the event at Congressional (2009, 2012) but no majors. He’s stuck at 14. There’s that sound again – major, major, major. Maybe Tiger would like to be in a remake of Catch-22.

Woods’ many changes over recent years (wives, girl friends, swing coaches) and physical breakdowns marked a break with what seemed to be a steady and single-minded march through every week of PGA Tour and international events. He’s obviously still a force and, when healthy, the world’s top golf attraction, but our standard in judging him pushed the bar to ridiculous heights. He is the ultimate victim of his own success.

After back surgery, Tiger got back on the course and did some chipping and putting. About a week ago he started letting loose with those drives that he’s known for. He acknowledges he might be a bit rusty when he competes in this tournament.

So what? Any event with Tiger in it becomes far more interesting than any event without him. He’s still the measuring stick for greatness in our time in this sport.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .