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Woods' struggle is good for golf

Tiger Woods is a phenomenon. Only, no, not the golf phenomenon he was once. He is now a instrument of curiosity the likes of which both the public and the
Frank Deford|
Woods' struggle is good for golf
Woods' struggle is good for golf
tiger-woods.jpg

Tiger Woods is a phenomenon.

Only, no, not the golf phenomenon he was once. He is now a instrument of curiosity the likes of which both the public and the media have never dealt with in any sport, ever. Even though Woods' recent performance suggests he is only just another golfer now, when he plays ... until he is undeniably out of contention ... he remains the story.

Tiger Shoots 3-Over

Tiger Closes Gap

Tiger Trails by 8 Strokes

Whatshisname Wins as Tiger Finishes 14th And so on.

In a way, he holds golf hostage. Oh sure, dyed-in-the-wool golfers follow their whole sport closely, but the fringe fans, the type that really determines a sport's popularity, are fixated on Tiger. This week, he's not playing, so golf doesn't exist. Ladies and gentlemen, golf will officially resume again next Thursday when Mr. Woods tees off at the Doral.

It was understandable that he was the absolute focal point when he was the greatest golfer, maybe ever. We always follow the superstars and he was super-duper. But what is so bizarre, is that the interest in Woods remains so high. It's almost as if we cannot believe that he is diminished. Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Martin Kaymer barely exist. Tomorrow the drive will surely be straight. Tomorrow he can't possibly land again in the rough. Tomorrow he will sink the putt, guaranteed.

I'm convinced that this unusual intrigue is caused by the fact that we -- and maybe even he, too -- can't be sure why he's no longer great. Is it because of the notorious sex scandal, what that did to his reputation, his psyche, his confidence and ultimately his game? Or is he diminished just like other human athletes, simply because he's older -- no different from Roger Federer in tennis, Tim Duncan in basketball?

I think for many people -- even those who detest him personally -- what sustains the mystery is the belief that he was so fantastic, that age simply cannot be the issue, that Tiger Woods will get his mind straight and be the lord of the links once more. And, yes, of course, he could win again. Woods is 35 now, and it is not unusual for players to even win a major when they're older that that. But, it tends to be a catch-lightning-in-a-bottle kind of thing. Sure, older golfers can win one big one, but they don't win very often. But Tiger must be different. Certainly. Isn't he? Maybe ...?

You know what he reminds me of? The Broadway musical Spider-Man. It sells out to the curious, even though the critics hate it and it's always a tease, always a work in progress. And there's a dark side that draws us in. Maybe Spidey will find itself. But maybe it'll only be always not ... quite ... there. We watch Tiger Woods with the same almost morbid fascination, afraid to look away because if we do, we'll miss it if he miraculously returns to greatness, as if age doesn't matter with majesty, and what changed his life was all just a bump in the road.

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Frank Deford
FRANK DEFORD

Frank Deford is among the most versatile of American writers. His work has appeared in virtually every medium, including print, where he has written eloquently for Sports Illustrated since 1962. Deford is currently the magazine's Senior Contributing Writer and contributes a weekly column to SI.com. Deford can be heard as a commentator each week on Morning Edition. On television he is a regular correspondent on the HBO show Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel. He is the author of 15 books, and his latest,The Enitled, a novel about celebrity, sex and baseball, was published in 2007 to exceptional reviews. He and Red Smith are the only writers with multiple features in The Best American Sports Writing of the Century. Editor David Halberstam selected Deford's 1981 Sports Illustrated profile on Bobby Knight (The Rabbit Hunter) and his 1985 SI profile of boxer Billy Conn (The Boxer and the Blonde) for that prestigious anthology. For Deford the comparison is meaningful. "Red Smith was the finest columnist, and I mean not just sports columnist," Deford told Powell's Books in 2007. "I've always said that Red is like Vermeer, with those tiny, priceless pieces. Five hundred words, perfectly chosen, crafted. Best literary columnist, in any newspaper, that I've ever seen." Deford was elected to the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Six times at Sports Illustrated Deford was voted by his peers as U.S. Sportswriter of The Year. The American Journalism Review has likewise cited him as the nation's finest sportswriter, and twice he was voted Magazine Writer of The Year by the Washington Journalism Review. Deford has also been presented with the National Magazine Award for profiles; a Christopher Award; and journalism honor awards from the University of Missouri and Northeastern University; and he has received many honorary degrees. The Sporting News has described Deford as "the most influential sports voice among members of the print media," and the magazine GQ has called him, simply, "The world's greatest sportswriter." In broadcast, Deford has won a Cable Ace award, an Emmy and a George Foster Peabody Award for his television work. In 2005 ESPN presented a television biography of Deford's life and work, You Write Better Than You Play. Deford has spoken at well over a hundred colleges, as well as at forums, conventions and on cruise ships around the world. He served as the editor-in-chief of The National Sports Daily in its brief but celebrated existence. Deford also wrote Sports Illustrated's first Point After column, in 1986. Two of Deford's books, the novel, Everybody's All-American, and Alex: The Life Of A Child, his memoir about his daughter who died of cystic fibrosis, have been made into movies. Two of his original screenplays have also been filmed. For 16 years Deford served as national chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and he remains chairman emeritus. He resides in Westport, CT, with his wife, Carol. They have two grown children – a son, Christian, and a daughter, Scarlet. A native of Baltimore, Deford is a graduate of Princeton University, where he has taught American Studies.

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