Having gone through three horrible years dealing with one injury after another, I certainly am in a great position to appreciate what Tiger Woods must be going through at this moment. The greatest player — at least of my generation, if not in the history of the game — turns 40 on Wednesday and stands at a crossroad of his career.
In my case, it started with what felt like a routine wrist injury sustained during the week I won the Scottish Open. I took all the necessary precautions but played through the pain, and it kind of developed into a shoulder issue. It has had a severe impact on my career, but to be honest, my injuries do not even compare to those of Tiger’s.
Obviously, wrists, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles are some of the most vital body parts when trying to make a golf swing, but importance of the back is paramount. I am sometimes forced to suppress a smile when people comment that golf is such a leisurely sport. The truth is that there is a lot of physicality involved with our sport, and the back bears the brunt of the brute forces that are generated through a golf swing.
The spine and the upper body go through massive contortions with each shot, which is why you’ve got to have a healthy back to play the game at a 100 per cent level.
I say that because one of the questions I am asked regularly by golf fans is whether Tiger will be able to make a comeback from his situation right now and become a force once again.
The honest answer is that nobody knows at the moment — not even Tiger himself. It really depends on how he recuperates from the last two surgeries. If he is able to play without pain, I have no doubts that he is going to work his backside off to regain his form and challenge for titles once again. But if the pain and discomfort persist because of the pinched nerve, I don’t think he will be able to become a dominant force again.
However, I think I will be echoing the thoughts of all my fellow professional golfers when I say that I want him back on the golf course healthy and displaying the same kind of form that helped him win nearly 100 titles worldwide.
Tiger’s contribution in making golf what it is today is immense. He is single-handedly responsible for the increased awareness and popularity of the sport, which has led to better viewership for events and increased prize purses and opportunities for us.
Even when he wasn’t playing well this year, Tiger’s presence in tournaments attracted more eyeballs. Imagine what will happen if he starts playing well again!
— Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour
