OK, OK. So maybe he'll do it. Maybe. Just ... maybe.
Maybe Tiger Woods is not finished, despite the Blob's serial eulogies of the man, despite its many posts throwing shovelfuls of dirt on his grave. That's the news from windblown Carnoustie over there in Scotland, where Tiger, a 42-year-old man of many surgically-repaired parts, shot a 71 Sunday and tied for fifth in the British Open, behind playing partner Francesco Molinari.
Molinari is the first Italian ever to win the British Open, but never mind that. The more significant achievement was Tiger Woods actually hanging with the big boys in a major again, even briefly taking a Sunday lead for the first time in almost a decade.
Alas, he couldn't hold. But the Blob's long-standing prediction that he was done winning majors, for any number of perfectly legitimate reasons, suddenly doesn't look like the sure thing it once was.
This is because, even recognizing that Tiger Woods is the king of his era and perhaps any era, I underestimated just what a unique talent he was, and apparently still is. And I'm prepared now to concede that perhaps he isn't finished winning majors, that if he can be in the mix in a major that means he can win a major, and perhaps more than one.
I still think his back will eventually betray him again. But maybe not soon enough to stop him from reaching back and tapping into his old self again, the self the world of golf still thinks it sees in him. And that is nothing but good news for the game itself, because even now no one draws the crowds or jacks the ratings the way Tiger does.
You're always loathe to say "He's back," because that always sounds like you're jinxing whoever "he" is. And given Tiger's age and infirmities, it's just as decent a bet he misses the cut in the PGA as contends again. But for now ... yes, he's back.
And all of golf rejoices.
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