The obituaries were being penned almost as news dropped that Tiger Woods, as synonymous with the Masters as Augusta's azaleas, had been forced to withdraw from the season's first major championship.
That back injury, which some harshly cited as merely an excuse for his poor form, was real after all. A wounded Woods required surgery, and his decision to do so a week out from an event he has not missed since his 1995 debut underlined the seriousness of his latest injury.
Remember, this was a man who defied doctors’ orders to contest the 2008 US Open; and on a fractured left leg, Woods prevailed to secure his 14th major title.
He has not taken one since.
In that time, the injury list has grown as long as one of his booming drives.
Problems with his neck, knee, Achilles tendon and elbow have reduced playing time and, as his body creaks towards its fifth decade, it appears Woods’s chances of surpassing Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 majors are rapidly diminishing, too.
Woods may have forever refuted his preoccupation with usurping Nicklaus, but it was telling he referenced the milestone in Tuesday’s statement.
Despite insisting he is “absolutely optimistic” about the future, his physical decline suggests the years are fast catching up. Woods may be 38, but he is an old 38. Time, training and a tireless tenacity have taken their toll.
As he conceded at January’s Dubai Desert Classic, Woods spent fewer pre-season hours on the practice range than in the past. It was his body, not his game, he said, that needed more attention.
That has since been open to debate, although the two are obviously linked. Woods has struggled all season, with that 41st in Dubai his best finish thus far. On this form, he was never going to get anywhere near a fifth green jacket, anyway. But, then again, Woods always delighted in defying the odds.
He presumably will return to the Masters next year having not won there in 10 years. It is a startling statistic. That, and the rise of golf’s next generation – Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth et al – illustrates the task awaiting Woods upon his return.
It is difficult to offer a long-term prognosis, but an immediate diagnosis is rather more straightforward: the Masters will undoubtedly be poorer for his absence. With Woods out, and Phil Mickelson and Day doubts, next week’s tournament could take place without three of the world’s top five.
Given the rash of injuries to the game’s best players, Adam Scott should perhaps revise his menu for Tuesday’s Champions Dinner. Cut down on the Aussie fare, and go heavy on the ibuprofen, instead.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
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Rating: 4.5/5
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Five famous companies founded by teens
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Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
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Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
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Install an air filter in your home.
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Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
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