| On Tuesday morning, Tiger Woods survived a serious car accident that could, but for a slice of fortune, have been fatal. Such news bring a lot of emotions. How do we begin to process them all? Relief is a good starting point, and perhaps the most human emotion to bring. Whether you spent all day pinned to the television coverage and devoured every fresh snippet of information, or not, the most important thing to come from this is that a man – a father – is still alive. Woods is the most famous golfer in the world and a figure who utterly transformed the game, but these days that status has become one of his least important jobs. The sports world loved seeing him win the Masters on that extraordinary weekend in 2019, but successful fatherhood has become his primary focus, with an appearance alongside 12-year-old Charlie at the PNC Championship as a dad-son tandem providing an endearing highlight at the end of 2020. Those legendary peak years that resulted in 82 PGA Tour titles and 15 Majors, all the millions and all the rest of it, that’s in the books. Part of history, already enshrined, never to be changed. All of the “next” – his children’s teenage years, the family events and occasions, that is still to come. On Tuesday, it was almost taken away. “It was very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Gonzalez said. “He is currently awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room,” read a statement released by Woods’ team, after the 45-year-old was operated on at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Relief extends to the fact that we are talking about this – a hospital stay, albeit with severe injuries including open fractures to the bones in his right leg and a rod inserted into his tibia. And not talking about how to grieve, for the second time in 13 months, an iconic athlete being lost in a terrible Los Angeles-area accident. I’ve written this before but it is worth repeating – no life is more important or deserving than another. Yet the way our society is structured means certain figures have a tug on our nostalgia that can’t be ignored. For millions, Kobe Bryant was part of the backdrop of their youth. So too, through roughly the same time period, was Tiger Woods. This story, thank goodness, is an appreciation, not an obituary. “I have very significant benchmarks in my life that I associate with Tiger,” FS1’s Nick Wright said on First Things First. “I am so sad because I don’t want to say it is a definite, but we probably never see him golf (again). This final chapter seems to have been cut short.” What else to feel? Concern, definitely – because how can you not? Woods’ life has been far from perfect, especially since his much-publicized personal issues came to light in 2009 and precipitated the end of his prime. In 2017, he was arrested by Florida police for driving under the influence, with the ensuing toxicology report stating he had five drugs in his system, mostly prescribed to help him combat post-surgical back pain. Regarding this week’s incident in Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said there was “no evidence of impairment at this point in time.” “It’s reasonable to worry about what caused the accident,” Sports Illustrated Michael Rosenberg wrote. “We don’t know and it’s OK to worry. We know that Woods has battled prescription-drug addiction … If he were your friend, you would worry. It is rational and not malicious. But we don’t know and sure as hell should not assume.” How much curiosity about what follows for Woods is reasonable? When we love athletes we are fascinated by them and always want to know more. Woods emerged as a transcendent sportsman even before he broke into the professional ranks and a smothering level of attention came with that. It is natural to be curious, but the greatest of athletes bring out a sense of selfishness in us. We want a piece of them, we want to know about them and most of all, we want to see them play because when they do, it is like watching superhuman poetry. That’s what Woods was at his peak — something beautiful but also head-scratching because hitting those shots, with that level of efficiency, should have been impossible. For everyone else, it was. As a black athlete in what was an overwhelmingly white sport, he has blazed an unmistakable trail and for a long time it seemed his chase of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Majors was a formality. Then it wasn’t, as all the ailments and surgeries piled up, and the agony they caused debilitated him. Woods’ competitive career was rapidly nearing its close even before his vehicle crashed through a median, across two opposing lanes and rolled part way up an embankment. He hadn’t managed a top 35 finish in more than a year. In a television interview on Sunday he spoke with reservation about his prospects for coming back to action. “I’ve got to get there first,” he said, when pressed on CBS about his likelihood of showing up at The Masters. The final thing to feel towards Woods is hope. Hope that he finds a manageable recovery from the injuries incurred. Hope that the future is mobile and healthy, whether it involves much golf or not. It’s a bit overwhelming to think about how this could have ended differently, and tragically, but when a law enforcement official says someone is lucky to be alive, it is hard not to confront that possibility. It’s difficult to know how to end this story, except to be grateful that the tale of Tiger Woods – is an ongoing one. Here’s what others have said … Phil Mickelson, Professional Golfer: “We are all pulling for you, Tiger. We are so sorry that you and your family are going through this tough time. Everyone hopes and prays for your full and speedy recovery.” Brandon Marshall, First Things First: “It took me back to this time last year with Kobe. I’m just so happy we’re not mourning Tiger right now. We don’t know if he’ll ever be able to play golf again, but I’m just thankful that Tiger is here. He is one of the greatest athletes to ever grace this planet, and if his playing career is over, we can still celebrate him.” Justin Thomas, Professional Golfer: “It hurts to see one of your closest friends get in an accident and I just hope he’s alright. I’m worried for his kids. I’m sure they are struggling.” |
