Tiger Woods Returns To Augusta: Trivia And History In The Making

Anyone that follows, not just golf, but also sports, knows how monumental the 2010 Masters will be. Some writers (Bill Simmons) are being a bit hyperbolic in their analysis of the upcoming event. When isn’t Bill Simmons hyperbolic? Keith Olbermann even called him out on it this time. Other writers continue to question Tiger’s mental and physical ability in the wake of this media and personal storm. Jeff Macgregor wrote an excellent piece metaphorically comparing Tiger Woods to America. The point is there are a plethora of angles, subplots and stories that accompany Tiger Woods on his journey to and through Augusta. So, how am I viewing this event?

As far as I’m concerned there have been three transcendent athletes over the last 50 years: Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. These athletes revolutionized their sport in terms of how it was played, viewed, and conceptualized by the American public. They made the sport accessible to a larger audience. They dominated in ways we had never seen. They played their sport with a tenacious drive and talent that we thought was otherworldly as we witnessed it. All three are unique in those ways and one other way: They all had to make a comeback.

Muhammad Ali made a comeback because he spent 3 years essentially fighting the U.S. government. Jordan made his first (only one that actually counts) comeback after leaving the NBA to grieve his murdered father and to eventually try baseball. Others believe he left because of his gambling problems. Tiger is making a comeback after the most embarrassing, overtly public sex/infidelity scandal of all time. I say ‘overtly public’ because most of us, myself included, are sick of having to constantly hear about it almost every day since the story broke. That’s what happens when the media becomes the tabloids. Thank you TMZ.

We know what happened to Ali and Jordan when they came back. Ali won the title two more times and cemented his legacy as the greatest ever. Jordan won three more titles and cemented his legacy as the greatest ever. I wasn’t alive for Ali’s comeback. I wasn’t really aware for Jordan’s comeback. Tiger is the transcendent athlete of my generation and this is his moment. This is his comeback. What will Tiger do?

Two months ago I wrote a blog saying that I thought Tiger would come back at the Masters and that he would win. My opinion has not changed. I believe the answer to that future aforementioned trivia question will be ‘1^st place’. The only thing that can stop Tiger is Tiger and I don’t think he would come back on this particular stage if he felt he was not emotionally capable of handling that pressure. Even players who have watched him practice say he looks great.

The tournament starts Thursday. For anyone who wants some cool tidbits and facts about the Masters before watching check this out. By the time Sunday rolls around I will be playing Sports IQ, and hopefully watching Tiger put on that green jacket, thus making me look like a prophetic genius.

What do you think? Can he win? Will you watch?

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