USA Today via Reuters
Tiger Woods has repeatedly faltered in overcoming the wrath of his injuries. The 15-time major champion faced a similar fate at the 2024 Masters Tournament, where, despite a steady start and an extremely well-performed second round, Woods finished last on the leaderboard with a score of 16-under-par because of physical difficulties arising because of reignited injuries.
Interestingly enough, despite being in 789th place according to the OWGR at the moment, the three-time US Open winner received a special exemption, courtesy of the USGA. Woods promptly accepted the irresistible offer and will be seen partaking in the 124th edition of the event in June. But what are his odds of winning? Zero, and here’s why!
Tiger Woods’s injured past won’t let him win at Pinehurst
Our best bet is that it is highly unlikely the 48-year-old will add a fourth U.S. Open title to his name (at least this year). The fan-favorite golfer continues to struggle with his back injuries from over a decade ago. Further, the 82-time PGA Tour winner is still suffering from the aftermath of his February 2021 car accident, which has caused him leg injuries (especially centered around his ankle). This has led him to depend on a “cold plunge every day, religiously,” in his hopes to fix his “extremely sore” self and get going.
Adding to his pre-existing health struggles is the long-lasting streak of special exemption holders being unable to reach the heights of success in this particular major championship. In the US Open’s history, only one golfer who made his way into the field with a special exemption has won. He was Hale Irwin and he won in 1990.
However, except for Irwin, the event has historically faced a series of specially exempted players either missing the cut or withdrawing. Even if such players make the cut, they either finish at the end of the leaderboard or out of the top few positions. In fact, throughout the 124 editions, only five times have special exemptions been able to finish in the top 10. Evidently, then, history seems to be against Woods in his attempts at resurgence in June.
via Reuters
What makes matters worse is that Woods could not stand true to some of the high expectations that were placed on him by his closest friends during the first major of the season. Notah Begay III, a close friend of the GOAT was sure that Woods had his eyes on much more than making the cut at the Masters. While it was half-true that Woods gave an increasingly improved performance at the Augusta National Golf Club, it was all less than what Begay and the rest of the golf world expected from him.
After being unsuccessful in meeting his promise of playing once every month of the 2024 season, it seems Woods is trying his level best to at least deliver some of his best golf at the four majors of the season. However, all his attempts seem to go in vain as destiny continues to give him jolts of reality checks. But what is the one persistent goal of the 5-time Masters champ despite the hurdles that he faces?
Tiger Woods’s desperate attempt to “ruin” the Sunday Red logo
“My goal is to ruin the logo. I want to keep ruining the logo,” said Tiger Woods in an interview on the Today show on Wednesday morning. His apparel brand, Sun Day Red’s logo, currently features fifteen stripes, each representing the fifteen-time Major Champ’s wins. With his ongoing resolve to try and play one event a month for the rest of the season and all of the three remaining majors, Woods seems to be constantly trying to break out of the cycle of his bad luck.
However, based on recent trends, if the slightest chance of Woods overcoming his ongoing struggles comes true, it is highly likely he would play in contention with the 2x Augusta winner, Scottie Scheffler, who is currently ruling the golf world. Talking of his polished game, Woods seemed awe-struck.
“There’s something different about his [ball flight]. It’s just so consistent. It’s just a matter of — if he putts decent, he’s going to win. If he putts great, he blows away fields. If he has a bad putting week, he contends. He’s just that good a ball-striker,” said Woods.
Surely the 48-year-old is aware of the stringent competition that faces him in the next few months. However, the chances of him adding another strike to his brand’s logo remain negligible. Do you think so too? Let us know in the comments section below.
