Few might have anticipated a classic Tiger Woods performance at The Open this week, but expectations were unrelenting as far as the legend's official website was concerned.
Woods—a three-time Open champion and one of only a few stars to win multiple titles at St. Andrews— carded a first-round 78 after he was seen hobbling around the Old Course at times. His comeback (and potential last outing at this venue) was emotional for numerous reasons, not least because it came almost 18 months after his leg was severely injured in a life-threatening car crash.
But those factors didn't prevent golf writer Dan Rapaport from slamming Woods' Thursday performance as "barely respectable" in a report published on the 15-time major-winner's official website. The journalist pointed out Woods had the 150th Open "circled on his calendar since before he could walk again," perhaps proffered as a ploy to help counter-balance the incoming criticism.
"It started promisingly enough, with Woods flushing a long iron into the center of the expansive first fairway—only for his ball to rest in a fresh, sandy divot," began Rapaport's dissection of Woods' opening round. "Not five minutes later, a proper buzzkill: Woods’ approach one-hopped into the burn guarding the front of the green, he blocked a four-footer for bogey, and this never really happened at all.
"Woods played his first seven holes in six over par to eject himself from relevance in his 22nd Open Championship start and needed to play his final 10 holes in one-under par to salvage a barely respectable six-over 78."
Friday's showing proved more competent as Woods shot a 75 to end nine-over par and failed to make the cut. It could prove to be his last competitive appearance on the Old Course, particularly after the fan and player-led tribute on the 18th hole was anything to go by.
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Rapaport's summary of events wasn't without sympathy, as he accepted a tiresome, six-hour round was the "worst-case scenario" for a 46-year-old "with a fused back and significant hardware holding his right leg together."
For that reason, the earlier description of Woods' 78 being "barely respectable" is even more perplexing. To acknowledge the factors that will afflict Woods for the rest of his life while also judging the grizzled veteran compared to his previous prime makes for an awkward contradiction.
If there were any suspicions this latest comeback from injury came too soon, Woods will have his chance to recover after this year's major schedule comes to a close. Regardless of whether this also happens to be the end of one of the greatest careers in golf, commanding respect deserves to be the least of his concerns.
