Fortune is finally smiling upon Woods once more
WHILE the technically minded ruminate over the startling transformation in Tiger Woods’ golf swing, plenty more have been struck by something else that has undergone a radical makeover — his personality.
In the five tournaments since his return to the game, Woods has been a smiling, engaging presence, signing autographs and generally acknowledging the enormous galleries that have accompanied his every move, while being open and obliging with the media. Let’s be honest here: that is not how we remember him, is it?
Woods is evidently keen to obliterate the awful police image from 10 months ago, when he was drugged up and seemingly on the road to oblivion.
On Thursday, there was a telling moment in his media huddle as Woods spoke of the obvious relish he feels in progressing so far, so quickly.
‘You guys were asking different questions just a short while ago and now the narrative has completely flipped,’ he gently pointed out. ‘I’d just like to remind you guys of that and that you need to enjoy it. After what I’ve been through, playing feels good.’
He is also enjoying putting on a show for his two children, Charlie and Sam, who have now reached the ages of nine and 10 respectively.
‘I was away from it for so long and they were so young when I was playing, they don’t remember any of it,’ said Woods. ‘So this is pretty cool for me to experience it with them. I picked them up from school on the day after the Valspar Championship last Sunday and they went through all the different scenarios. “Dad had a chance to win on Sunday, he made a big putt on 17” and so on… to me, that’s really neat.’
Providing he stays healthy, there is no question the neat experiences will keep on coming.