He is ranked 1,283rd in the world, turns 48 on December 30, and last April underwent surgery on his right ankle, the 11th of his career,

after 10 interventions between his knee and back, and a traffic accident that nearly lost his right leg.

Only a steely mind and an irrepressible desire to continue playing golf at the highest level have kept Tiger Woods’ sporting career alive, which has been hanging by a thread.

The 15-time major champion is a limping man, struggling around the golf course in recent months, only getting up a few times, and suffering as he walked through 18 holes without the aid of electrics.

Despite his body being covered in scars, Tiger refuses to retire, believing that he still has one last dance left, at least a farewell at the prestigious Masters.

It is a fight that Tiger is still fighting. On the other hand, he entered his new life without a golf club in his hand.

Since last Thursday, the World Wide Technology Championship has been held in Mexico, at El Cardonal (Los Cabos), the first Woods-designed course to be introduced to the PGA Tour elite (Erik van Rooyen won early Monday morning, November 6, Hanoi time. This is also the second PGA Tour title for the South African golfer).

The creator of the event was there, one of the legend’s few public appearances after his recent matches.

Tiger has been playing slowly since he crashed his car in February 2021 and broke his right leg. In 2022, he finished 47th at The Masters, withdrew early at the PGA Championship and did not make the cut at the 150th The Open Championship at Saint Andrews.

This year, even less: 45th at Genesis; withdrew from The Masters after playing seven holes on the third day and the match was suspended due to rain, when he was last on the leaderboard with 9 over par.

The cold and wet punished the “Super Tiger”, once again leaving the image of a man who could hardly even stand. 10 days after that farewell, the door to the operating room opened again to repair the ankle.

The past weekend had difficulty going down some stairs in Los Cabos. It seems that later this month, Woods will not be able to participate in the Hero World Challenge (November 27-December 3), an event he himself presided over.

Between real golf and virtual golf

Tiger’s new golf event is designed by himself, and above all, he is also participating in the program. The American legend, along with Rory McIlroy, is actively promoting the TGL – still known to professionals as the Tiger Woods League – which begins its first round on January 9, 2024, combining virtual golf with real golf.

Six of the world’s top 10 golfers will join him, despite Jon Rahm’s last-minute withdrawal for personal reasons.

“I still think it’s a great opportunity, but it requires a level of commitment that I can’t give at the moment,” said the Spaniard.

The Tiger League is played in teams, as part of the groundbreaking LIV Golf hosted by Saudi Arabia.

There are six teams of four, competing against each other from January from qualifying to the final. Each event consists of 15 holes, the first nine in an inter-stake format and the last six in individual duels.

The players tee off in front of a giant simulation screen, 20 times larger than a normal one. For shots under 50 yards, they will approach the green, which can be adjusted to their liking.

Competitors wear microphones to record feedback, and all matches will take place at the newly built SoFi Center on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Florida.

The show, which airs on ESPN, is rounded out by a roster of other sports stars who are franchise owners: sisters Serena and Venus Williams (tennis), Alex Morgan (soccer), the Antetokounmpo brothers, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson (both basketball), and more.

Tiger looks forward to the new life that awaits him when he leaves the professional golf scene, still wondering if he wants to play on the high-level tour when he turns 50 (PGA Tour Champions).

In the new show, he barely has to walk, his biggest nightmare. The magic is still in his hands, and the desire to win is still in his head. Only, his legs are no longer with the legend who has walked farther than anyone in history.

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Source: Los Angeles Times