Can Tiger Woods Really Come Back?

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There’s a buzz in the air whenever Tiger Woods competes in a golf tournament. Fans are witnessing a golfer that, at his peak, can be considered one of the best golfers of all time. The combination of nostalgia and potential when watching Woods invokes an excitement that no other professional golfer alive can generate.

Although Woods being on the course and competing is enough for some fans, many wonder whether Woods will ever complete his comeback, specifically by way of winning a tournament or another major.

Tiger Is Rising

This year’s PGA Championship, which took place Aug. 9-12, saw vintage Woods. He came up just short against Brooks Koepka in adding to his stunning tally of 14 Major championships. Fans are sensing it won’t be too long before Tiger adds to the total, which explains why ratings surge at the golfing events he attends. Golf fans do not want to miss one of the most memorable comebacks in professional sports history.

CBS reached 8.5 million viewers during the final round of the PGA Championship, when Tiger had a very real chance to win. The number is a 73 percent increase from the 4.9 million people who watched the tournament’s final round in 2017. Woods is the difference, helping the network attain the best ratings for a PGA Championship since 2009.

Golf is at an exciting point in time, showcasing a mixture of greats like Woods with exciting young talent such as Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Koepka. New and old golf fans alike are witnessing an impressive cast of golfers each tournament, with unpredictable outcomes and standout talents.

From Star to Underdog

In 2008, when Tiger last won a major, the notion of him being an underdog would have been perceived as illogical. Today, he is definitively an underdog fans are rooting for, mainly because doctors once told Woods that he would never be able to compete professionally again. Fans tend to react with fervency any time a legendary athlete defies expert opinions to re-emerge and again show elite skill.

Tiger’s infidelity, public divorce and 2017 arrest for driving under the influence of prescription drugs show he is imperfect, though many fans are OK with that, instead embracing full talent on display. If anything, breaking the facade of perfection can give new rise to underdog status.

Can He Win a Tournament or Major?

Tiger appears mostly recovered from medical issues, and his mind seems to be in the right place. Tiger is the same golfer who set a course record at the Masters a year after turning pro in 1997, shooting a -18. There is an abundance of fiercely talented young golfers competing, and they will undoubtedly give their all against Tiger. However, anyone watching Tiger’s comeback tour will see the return of one of the sport’s most extraordinary talents.