Yes, he’s f lawed, but his courage and spirit can inspire us all
As we strive for superlatives befitting Tiger woods’s astonishing comeback, comparing him with sport’s other against-all- odds returnees — from Muhammad Ali to our own James Cracknell — we might also consider the wider implications of his triumph.
For his redemption is not only a story about reserves of courage and indomitable spirit, it also reminds us of the importance of forgiveness. In the eyes of the public, who revered him until he so shamefully abused his position, the errant woods has finally been vindicated and pardoned for his sins.
To realise that, you only had to listen to the Augusta crowd’s whoops of delight as he sank the winning putt on sunday evening. To see the thrill on their faces as he exchanged high-fives with them on his triumphant strut back to clubhouse. It was telling that the sky sports golf pundits omitted to mention, even once, the industrialscale infidelity that caused woods’s stellar career to fall off a cliff almost a decade ago, every bit as much as the more recent chronic spinal injury that required reconstructive surgery.
As they heaped praise on him, there were just a few oblique euphemisms about his past ‘problems’. All that mattered was that Tiger, the genius with more God-given talent than anyone the game has known, was back.
Their euphoria was understandable. For in his pomp, woods was not merely a great golfer. He was so superior to his rivals, so instantly recognisable in every corner of the world, that he quite simply was his sport.
when he made his entrance, during the mid-Nineties, golf was slowly dying — despised by many young and working-class people as a snooty and tediously time-consuming pastime for white professional types.
Built like a finely honed athlete, decked out in a stylish crimson shirt and black slacks, and plainly disdainful of his inferiors, Tiger made golf seem so cool that the courses were suddenly filled with teenagers.
Indeed, the fact that two million people regularly play at Britain’s 2,500 clubs, and that golf has become a $200 billion global industry spanning designer merchandise and tourism, is in no small measure down to woods’ magnetic charisma.
That he was a role model to lessadvantaged young people only exacerbated the tragedy of his demise. when his debauchery was laid bare, he disillusioned an entire generation.
so, as he removed his sweat-soaked Nike cap to display his now-balding pate after winning the Masters for a fifth time, one couldn’t help but feel thrilled by his rebirth. Only the stoniest of hearts could have failed to be stirred as woods strode joyously off the course to hug his mother, daughter and son, who wasn’t even born when he last won a major tournament.
How different he was to the slightly stooped man I saw being humiliated at the Ryder Cup in Paris, only last september. Then, he had looked allbut finished, a rather sorry has-been.
Among ageing weekend golfers such as me, this reversal of fortunes is hugely inspiring, for it is a reminder that even with our artificial knees and various ailments we can strive to improve. That somewhere within our frail bodies there is still that golden round.
Indeed, the significance of woods’s resurgence transcends golf. It is proof that in any field, age and infirmity are not insurmountable barriers, merely hurdles to be overcome. That no one should be written-off as a lost cause.
we do not know how woods’s ex-wife, elin Nordegren, feels about his glorious restoration, but having retrained as a psychologist and made her peace with him, one suspects this admirable woman will be pleased his years of physical and mental torment are over.
we should rejoice in his amazing comeback, too. For by pulling off his redemptive victory, Tiger has not only restored the faith of his fans.
He has unwittingly taught us a powerful lesson: that however low you sink in life, there is always a glimmer of hope.
Only the stoniest of hearts could fail to be stirred