Tiger? Woods

Just when it seemed like his game couldn't get worse, Tiger Woods dropped a +18 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this past weekend.  He is looking more like a hurt kitten than the ferocious tiger we are used to.  This is the same guy who won the US Open in an 18-hole playoff with a torn ACL and a broken leg.  Now, the once invincible "greatest golfer in history" is now a question mark for this year's Ryder Cup team.  He can't seem to do anything right on the course, except give a signed glove and ball to the fan who he hit in the face with his ball off the tee.  The question before his personal fiasco began in November was not if he would break Nicklaus' record for major victories but when.  Now, the question is if he can ever get it together to even win another tournament, much less a major.  With the PGA Championship looming this weekend, Tiger has a lot of work to do before he will be in contention.

Even before his dirty laundry was aired before the whole world, there were many who despised Tiger for his antics on the course.  Those individuals enjoyed seeing his downfall, but now, even his harshest critics have to be yearning to see the fire back in Tiger's eyes.  Love him or hate him, he has completely transformed golf.  TV ratings when Tiger is playing tournaments are through the roof.  Also, when he was rehabbing his knee, ratings plummeted.  Everybody wants to see Tiger, but a bad Tiger is bad for golf.  Whenever he is in the hunt on a Sunday, it brings an added excitement.

Tiger is doing his best Mike Tyson impersonation, but instead of Buster Douglas doing the irreparable damage, it's Tiger inflicting it on himself due to his bad decisions.  I think the best thing for golf would be for Tiger to find rejuvenation this week at the PGA and not only contend but win his 15th major.  Such a victory would bring a much-needed buzz back to golf that it hasn't had since Tiger took his hiatus to deal with his personal problems.  Not to mention, a Ryder Cup with with Tiger on the team on European soil might bring some positive light back to the former hero of golf.  Tiger, for the sake of golf, stop looking like John Daly and play like Tiger Woods.