All eyes will be on Tiger Woods, yet again, this week as he tries to overcome a lack of match fitness and the effects of knee surgery and win his 14th major title at this week’s US Open.
The last time Woods came off a long break was when his father and the most influential figure in his life, Earl, died. He failed to make the cut at the US Open in 2006, the first time in his career he was not involved during the weekend of a major tournament.
However, there are no comparisons between that break and this one. This time, it was merely arthroscopic surgery. And the last time he recovered from a similar operation, he won. And that was at Torrey Pines, the venue for this week’s US Open.
So, the only thing that Woods really has to worry about is rustiness. He pretty much knows the course, having won the Buick Invitational six times at the same venue, including the last four. There is really no need for him to stroll through the 18 holes either. He knows it well enough. Woods said in a Boston Herald article:
“I always like playing here. I played in the Junior World from 15 to 17. Even though the golf course was renovated and changed, I still like the sightlines. Don’t have a problem reading the greens. For some reason I felt very comfortable. I feel very good about my preparation. Just really looking forward to getting out there. It’s just a matter of playing, getting into the flow of the round and rhythm and the competitive atmosphere.â€
While his missed cut at Winged Foot two years ago was because of the emotional stress he suffered from losing his father, his most recent break was physical and far easier to handle. He admitted that he struggled to cope in his first tournament back after his dad had passed away.
“You can’t compare the two. They’re two totally different places. When my dad passed, coming back and playing was a lot more difficult than I thought. If I take time off and come back, I always work on my fundamentals. Well, who taught me my fundamentals? It was dad. What I had to go through and my preparation for tournaments, my dad taught me all those things. Overcoming and getting out and practicing, I didn’t want to do that because I’d always think about him. That was my hardest thing.â€
Even though it was an emotional rollercoaster for Woods the year Earl left him, he did go on to win the British Open and PGA Championship. However he performs this week at Torrey Pines, it will be good to have him back. Golf is not the same without Tiger.
