For the past week or so we all wondered if Tiger Woods would actually be able to return to professional golf and play in the Masters and if he was able to do that what kind of golf would the GOAT be able to play?
Well, Tiger did make his return on Thursday and he played like the Tiger we’ve known for so many years. He grinded his way around a place where he was won five times. He pumped his fist after a long birdie putt. And it was only fitting that he closed out his first round by fighting for par after a horrible tee shot.
We’ve grown used to seeing him not give up, to keep pushing, to keep reminding us to never doubt what he can do both on, and off, the course
So when he tipped his cap on 18 while fans cheered his 1-under, 71, all I could do was smile and think – wow, that was the coolest round of golf I’ve ever seen.
We’ve known for a while that we’re likely not going to get too many more Tiger moments in our lives. You know those times – when we sit around the TV watching in awe as he pumps his fist after a huge putt or hits a clutch shot in close to the pin. Moments that get all of our group texts going off as we share the fun with our friends and loved ones. Not many athletes can do that. Tiger has always been able to, and he did that again on Thursday.
The thing I kept thinking while I watched Tiger plotting his way around a course that he knows so well is how grateful I felt to be experiencing this again. Loss is something we all have to deal with in our lives. It can be a loved one you know so well or a famous person or musician who you don’t know at all personally but they are still someone who touched your life in some many different ways. Those losses hurt. A lot.
We almost lost Tiger about 14 months ago in that awful car accident in Los Angeles.
Thankfully he survived. Thankfully he’s still here to be a father. And thankfully, or maybe a little selfishly for us, he’s able to knock the ball around a legendary course once again and provide some goosebump moments that we all need in our lives.
Let’s take a look back at his stunning round…
