Actually, that was Sir Smoke-A-Lot from Dave Chappelle’s 1998 comedy, “Half Baked,” who said that, but hell, Tiger Woods could have easily said it, too!
In January, I wrote an article about Woods making his 2017 PGA season debut at the Farmers Insurance Open after 2015-2016 was consumed by surgeries and physical and mental recovery. Skip to April, and we are once again back to the Tiger Woods rehabilitation saga.
On Wednesday, Woods had lower right back fusion surgery in hopes the pain that has plagued him for years will finally be relieved. The procedure, a last ditch effort to provide comfort, marked his fourth back operation since March 2014.
The 4-time Masters winner toyed with us for months about competing in golf’s first major tournament of the season at Augusta National. One week before the event, he announced for the third time in four years that he would not be playing.
Now, two weeks after the event, he undergoes a surgical procedure. He obviously had no intention of playing in the Masters this year. Way to go Eldrick! Letting all of your fans down once again…what little fans you have left. Can you do us a solid? If there’s even a slight chance that you will not compete in future events, could you not get our hopes up? Is that too much to ask? Just say “no”, or, at least, “it’s not likely.”
The fusion surgery typically has a six month recovery period, according to sources. We’ve all been waiting for Woods to come back and return to his dominant form. I am finding this probability harder and harder to hope for and believe. Woods does seem to be optimistic about Wednesday’s procedure, and I will root for him when he does attempt his next comeback. But, this time my expectations will be much lower. Even lower than Tiger’s standards when he’s out chasing tail. We’ve all heard those stories.
So, here’s to hoping the fusion surgery is a success and results in a positive impact for Woods, his career, and the golf world.
*Since undergoing his first back operation in 2014, Woods has played in just 18 golf events. Ten out of those eighteen, Woods didn’t see Sunday (7 missed cuts, 3 withdrawals).
Sir Smoke-A-Lot
@Eddie_ThePAS