COLUMN: Tiger is back

     A beast is on the comeback trail. Tiger Woods made golf interesting again. Last week he finished runner-up in the PGA championship. He was in contention on Sunday. He had a huge crowd following him around. Tiger Woods was relevant.

     Looking to claim his fifteenth major, Woods was struggling to hit fairways but his short game and putting gave him a chance for the win.

     Tiger’s story isn’t anything new. His personal life unraveled before our eyes. He became an average golfer. Health issues shut Tiger’s game down for two years.

     Now he is healthy again, mentally and physically. That Sunday at the PGA he had that killer instinct look in his eyes. He knew he was knocking on the door, that a win was possible.

     Tiger did everything he needed to do but winner Brooks Koepka also did what he needed to do. Koepka was the better golfer. He has been for a while winning two of the four majors this season. He may just be the next Tiger Woods.

     On the 18^th green Woods was putting for a birdie. Mathematically this putt wasn’t going to win him the tournament. Koepka, who was golfing behind Tiger, was going to have to have a major breakdown to lose the PGA.

     The putt for birdie was 19-feet out. No gimmie. Woods stroked the ball like he had all day on the greens. The ball sank, securing second place. He responded as if he had just won the tournament with a big fist pump.

     The crowd also reacted as if Tiger had just won the tournament. I think Woods felt like a humongous weight had just been lifted off his shoulders.

     A few years back I wrote in this space my disdain for Woods. I felt he was too arrogant, a poor sport. He was a fan friendly person on the golf course. It’s funny how one’s mind can change when a sports figure can hit rock bottom.

     You find yourself cheering him or her on, hoping that maybe they get back to the top of that mountain peak. I found myself doing exactly that on Sunday of the PGA. Tiger was broken and he has fought back to get to the top of the gold hierarchy.

     He’s not there yet but he just served notice that he’s not going down without a fight.