Tiger Woods withdraws from the Augusta Masters: Is the legend now reduced to just a ceremonial golfer?
Tiger Woods has decided to withdraw from The Masters 2023 following his injuries.
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Tiger Woods and his tryst with injuries did leave their mark at the 2023 Augusta Masters as well. The legend of the game, although has recorded the highest streak of cuts made at the tournament, is finding it difficult to make his way through at the tournament. Battling through the conditions on Saturday, Woods has just announced his withdrawal from the Augusta Masters 2023 tournament.
Woods, now 47, might look tired and defeated. However, do not let this look be a facade for his determination to continue playing professionally. Ahead of the Masters, Woods had stated that he still wants to continue playing as “an appreciation of being able to play the game.”
Two years back, Tiger Woods had suffered severe injuries following a car crash that left him with a severely broken right leg and ankle. However, after taking a break of almost a year, Woods returned for professional play at The Open 2022. In this year’s Masters, with LIV players also coming in to compete, Tiger Woods’ body language and play seem like he is fighting for a place to be back at a respectable position in the field.
Related: Tiger Woods ties record for the longest consecutive cuts made at The Masters
Where does Tiger Wood find himself professionally after the Augusta Masters 2023?
The Masters 2023 has been quite a ride for the golfers, especially the elite ones competing in one of the most coveted majors of the sport. Despite the horrendous weather in Georgia and the cut-throat competition coming from the most elite of golfers, Tiger Woods still made the cut at the Augusta National this year.
However, how long will he be able to sustain himself through his ailing and injured body? Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters and this was very well considered one of the greatest achievements in sports. The legend has a whooping 82 PGA Tour victories to date in his career, just one shy of Sam Snead’s 83 PGA Tour victories. Furthermore, he also has 15 Major Championship wins, three shy of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major wins.
So, is Tiger Woods determined enough to go past these records? From his recent plays and interviews, it seems evident that he knows it well he would not be able to match up to these numbers. Woods has admitted that he is in “constant pain” ever since injuries started wrecking his career. Woods admits, “I’ve said this before prior to my back fusion. I didn’t know that I was going to be able to play the game at any kind of level. I was able to do that and come back and play and happened to win a Major along the way.”
Like every other golfer, young or old, and similar to every legend who had preceded him, Woods holds a special remark about the Augusta Masters. For him, perhaps, it’s the memories that matter and the five Green Jackets that he has won throughout his career which push his zeal for more. He says, “There are so many stories, so much of my life has been here at Augusta National, and again just so excited to be back here again and compete and play.”
Woods now prefers to spend more time with his family, his son Charlie and reflecting back on the illustrious career he has had over the years. Although he has made it to the cut at the Masters, many experts doubt his viability to go forward in the Masters, given his injuries and current physical state.
Before he made his decision to withdraw, Woods had the prospect of playing 29 holes on Sunday to mark the conclusion of his campaign at The Masters. He finished on Saturday six-over on third round, after making the 23rd cut of his career at 3-over par.
Whether he is a ceremonial or professional golfer, as long as there is news of Woods teeing at the course, fans will fill in galore to watch him play. Legends are not made in a day, but over several years from their achievements and hard work. Woods, as one of the very few persons of color in golf, has achieved magnanimously in golf and will forever be remarked as the greatest of all time for the sport.
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Siddid Dey Purkayastha
(528 Articles Published)