Page 50 - MIN VOS 6 jan,2016
P. 50
SPORTS A21
Wednesday 6 January 2016
Woods turns 40 and heads into uncertain future
DOUG FERGUSON In this April 4, 1995 photo, U.S. Amateur Champion Tiger Woods, left, talks with Greg Norman, of his short game. He was
AP Golf Writer Australia, on the second hole during practice for the 1995 Masters golf tournament on the Augusta coming off a career-high
Ten days after Tiger Woods National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. When Woods turned pro at 20, the No. 1 player in the world was 82 in the Phoenix Open. As
turned 24, he picked up his 41-year-old Greg Norman. Woods is 40, and the No. 1 player is 22-year-old Spieth. a fan, Finchem hated to
16th career U.S. PGA Tour see it. As a commissioner,
victory by beating Ernie (AP Photo/Dave Martin) he wasn’t concerned.
Els in an epic battle at Ka- “They said, ‘What do you
palua. struck a tone of resignation When he turned pro at 20, Golf is in a good spot with mean?’ I said, ‘He’s go-
More than winning his fifth from Woods, who always the No. 1 player in the world the next generation of ing to tee it up Thursday
straight tour event — the wanted to be seen as an was 41-year-old Greg Nor- stars — Spieth, Rory McIlroy, morning. You know any-
longest streak since 1953 athlete instead of a golfer, man. Woods is 40, and the Rickie Fowler, Jason Day one that’s not going to be
— it was how he won. They and now can do little more No. 1 player is 22-year-old at the moment — though watching?’” Finchem said.
matched eagles on the than walk. Spieth. none move the needle like “Everybody wants to see
18th in regulation and bird- Three surgeries on his lower “Where do I see myself in Woods. what he can do. Two years
ies in the playoff, and then back in just over 18 months the next five to 10 years?” The reminder came at the from now, he comes out,
Woods ended it on the make it hard to gauge his Woods blogged on his Wyndham Championship, and starts playing OK — or
second extra hole with a future. website. “I am still playing which Woods played for a year from now, whatever
40-foot birdie putt that was There is a tendency to cel- golf at the highest level the first time. The Greens- it is — he’ll have a huge im-
downhill, into the grain and ebrate his 40th birthday and winning tournaments boro, North Carolina tour- pact.”
broke hard to the left. by looking back, making it and major championships. nament printed an addi- Els was runner-up to Woods
Els saw the future that Jan- feel more like a retirement My foundation has been tional 39,000 tickets when for the second time in
uary day in 2000, and it party. It’s an easy trap. implemented around the he signed up, and it set three months at Kapalua in
was daunting. Woods hasn’t won in more globe, and we’ve helped attendance records each 2000, and he would go on
“He’s a legend in the mak- than two years, and when out not just millions, but day. That doesn’t happen to finish second to Woods
ing,” Els said. “He’s 24. He’s he won his last major in the when I’m all said and done with Spieth and McIlroy. It three more times that year.
probably going to be big- 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey with my life on this earth, it doesn’t happen with Phil He saw it coming. Els knew
ger than Elvis when he gets Pines, Jordan Spieth had will hopefully be billions.” Mickelson. it was coming in 1996 at
into his 40s.” just finished his first year of From the pinnacle of win- Tour Commissioner Tim Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Tiger Woods entered his high school. ning majors to the depths Finchem recalled being when Woods consulted
40s on Wednesday. When he turned 30, he was of injury, scandal, and asked at Torrey Pines this him on whether he should
Bigger than Elvis? No. 1 in the world. divorce, the impact of year if he was troubled to turn pro.
No, because golf isn’t in At age 40, he is No. 416. Woods has not changed. see Woods struggling with Is this what he would have
the same galaxy as rock expected 20 years later?
and roll. Woods has 79 U.S. PGA
But he was right about Tour victories (second only
Woods being a legend in to 82 by Sam Snead) and
the making, and it didn’t 14 majors (trailing the 18
take long. His 15-shot vic- won by Jack Nicklaus).
tory in the U.S. Open that The only reason to suggest
summer at Pebble Beach those numbers should be
was the most dominant in higher is because Woods
140 years of major cham- achieved so much so
pionships. He had the ca- quickly. The standard kept
reer Grand Slam at 24, and going up.
remains the only player Woods is hopeful his 40th
to win multiple majors in year brings good health,
back-to-back seasons. and a chance to compete
“Everyone has strengths again. He remains four ma-
and weaknesses,” Adam jors short of Nicklaus — no
Scott said. “We’ve only one has ever won more
seen one bloke out here than three majors in their
who did everything better 40s. The odds are against
than anyone else.” him historically, physically,
His legacy on the golf maybe even emotionally.
course is secure no matter “If that’s all it entails,”
what happens in the rest of Woods said in The Baha-
his career, and Woods re- mas about his career,
ferred to anything else he “then I’ve had a pretty
achieves as “gravy.” That good run. But I’m hoping
that’s not it.”q
