Challenging Year Turns Successful for Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods kicked off the year with a win at the Buick Invitational in January. By winning his very first tournament of 2006, Tiger was clearly off to a great start. By March, Tiger earned his second victory of the PGA season by winning the Ford Championship at Doral. With two early season victories under his belt, Tiger Woods was ready to take on Augusta National.
In April, Tiger Woods arrived at the Masters hoping to win the first major PGA championship of 2006. His father and best friend, Earl Woods, had prostate cancer and his health was deteriorating. Tiger wanted to win one more major championship for his father while he was still alive. Earl Woods, who Tiger refers to as Pops, was at the 1997 Masters when Tiger won his first major championship. Earl had just completed bypass heart surgery and should have been at home resting. However, not even open-heart surgery could keep Pops from standing greenside at 18 and giving Tiger a bear hug when he won the 1997 Masters. Tiger Woods knew that it would be very fitting if he could win one more time at Augusta for Pops. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Tiger finished in 3rd place, which was respectable, but not the result he had in mind. Not long after the Masters, Earl Woods passed away on May 3, 2006.
After the Masters, Tiger Woods did not play any more tournaments until the U.S. Open. A combination of his father’s death and his time off made his return at the Open that much harder. Tiger is the ultimate competitor and he wanted more than anything to win his first tournament after Earl passed away. In addition, the last day of the U.S. Open was Father’s Day, so a win would have been the perfect way to honor Pops. Unfortunately, Tiger Woods may have come back too soon, because he did not seem ready either physically or emotionally. Tiger missed the cut at the U.S. Open. It was the first time in his career that Tiger Woods missed the cut at a major championship. It appeared that Tiger had hit bottom.
At this point, it would have been understandable if Tiger took more time off or if he struggled the rest of the year. However, this is Tiger Woods. Not since Michael Jordan has the sports world seen a competitor as fierce and brave as Tiger Woods. After missing the cut at the U.S. Open, Tiger traveled across the pond and won the British Open. Winning his first major championship after Earl’s death, Tiger showed an emotional side that the world had not witnessed before. Tiger Woods hugged his caddie Steve Williams and his wife Elin in a show of celebration and relief. Tiger’s tears seemed to be the release of two months of pent up mourning over Pops. The moment has been best compared to when Michael Jordan won his first NBA Championship after his own father’s death. Both were rare instances when legendary athletes let down their guard and showed that they are human just like the rest of us. The rebound had begun.
Tiger followed his win at the British Open with a win at the Buick Open. Next, Tiger Woods won the PGA Championship for his twelfth career major. The win moved him past Walter Hagen on the career majors list. He is now second to only Jack Nicklaus in career major wins. His rebound was gaining momentum and he was climbing quickly.
Then, Tiger won the Bridgestone Invitational and the Deutsche Bank Championship. Before you knew it, Tiger Woods had won five straight PGA tournaments in less than two months. If he can win his next PGA tournament, Tiger will tie his career record by winning six in a row. In the process, he has also clinched the 2006 PGA Player of the Year Award. Perhaps more importantly, he has won two straight majors and has a chance at completing an unprecedented second Grand Slam.
Tiger may or may not continue his amazing winning streak. Two things are certain however. First, the 2006 PGA season has shown that Tiger Woods has the courage, strength, and heart of a champion. Second, and more importantly, Pops is extremely proud of Tiger.
Update: Tiger recently lost at a match play competition in Europe. The event was not sanctioned by the PGA Tour, so his PGA Tour winning streak is still alive.
