Wherefore Art Thou Tiger?

   I was never a huge Tiger Woods fan, I was always a Mickelson guy first. But, I've always wanted Woods to do well because his greatness was unmatched and it was exciting to watch the history unfold before my eyes. I've been to major tournaments and followed Tiger through crowds at least 15 people deep, everyone with the look of awe on their face as he bombed it down the fairway and proceeded to pitch a nice up and down for a birdie, and probably a runaway victory. But, for some reason, I fear we'll never see it again.
   Now, more so than ever, I am in Tiger's corner. He's almost become a sort of underdog, as most athletes become towards the ends of their careers. He gets called out by young have-not-yet-beens such as Rory McIlroy, old caddies who owe their whole careers to him, and Europeans who feel he needed to be calmer and nicer on the course. Unfortunately the cover stories we see regarding Tiger Woods still continue to be about off-the-course issues, press-conferences, and peers' comments. Will the story ever be about his play again? Will it ever be about his charge on the back 9 on a Sunday to capture a U.S. Open or Players Championship?
   As I write this Tiger Woods has posted a +7 (77) in his first round at the PGA. It's very sad, because I see a man who cannot master the things that used to make him so great - most notably, his focus and desire. It's been over 2 years now and still we all wait for Tiger to do something, to make a mark, to shut the critics up. But as time continues to roll on I fear we have seen the best that he has to offer.  And not even the most popular, and at times most revered athlete in the world, can recover from the circus that began to encompass his life on that November night.
   Tiger is all but out of contention for this major, so we wait, to see if he can compete again in April, and so on. Like an aging Wilt Chamberlain, or a failing Patrick Ewing, it hurts to see them go. Unfortunately for a country that worships individual greatness, we wait with bated breath for Tiger to return, or fade into oblivion.

- Tone