The most famous golfer of our time, Tiger Woods, has completed treatment for drug addiction. Will we see him again on the podium of any major tournament?
In the ‘noughties, every housewife knew Woods’ name. His successes were known not only to those who can’t tell a birdie from a par and a bunker from a green, but even to those who have little idea what golf clubs look like, how many there are, and how they differ.
These are all details for professionals, or at least amateurs of the sport’s most aristocratic (according to adherents). But Woods was so much in everyday life that it was hard not to notice him. He looked at us from the covers of magazines, glossy and not so glossy, smiled from the TV screen during commercials, his victories were covered in sports news where golf was not too welcome, he produced his own clothes and a named video game. And he also regularly topped the list of richest athletes – his earnings passed a billion dollars. Ten years later, Woods has been forgotten for a while.
SLEEPING BEAUTY.
Eldrick Tont Wood, the athlete’s full name, came to everyone’s attention in late May. Then the press reported that the 14-time major winner was arrested for drunken driving and spent the night in the police station. The hot facts were immediately scattered over the pages of newspapers and websites, where they were savored by fans of sensationalism.
Like the old anecdote about Rabinovich winning a million dollars at the lottery, not all of the information turned out to be true. Details emerged a little later, and were not as scandalous. As it turned out, about three o’clock in the morning, highway patrol in Palm Beach, Florida, noticed a Mercedes standing with its engine running right on the road. Inside, officers found Woods asleep, whose behavior seemed strange – he was lethargic and unable to speak clearly. Naturally, with such symptoms the athlete was immediately taken to the proper place.
Woods himself denied that he was drunk, and for good reason – there was no alcohol in his blood. But the 41-year-old golfer had to confess to other sins. As it turned out, he took medications, prescribed by a doctor, including painkillers and sleeping pills. And he overdid it and fell asleep at the wheel. After that, he had to start a rehabilitation program. Among other things, the charge of driving under the influence of medication was reduced to just dangerous driving, which implies much less severe sanctions. This story is not over yet.
BEST OF THE BEST
Those who think Woods is solely a media character are wrong. Nor are those who are convinced that Tiger only became popular because of political correctness, a nice story about breaking stereotypes — in short, “because he’s black.” The son of a Vietnam War veteran and a girl from Southeast Asia is indeed a very talented golfer, maybe even a genius. You can’t win 14 majors and a handful of other titles on media appeal alone, Anna Kournikova can attest. Woods, who has been holding the stick since he was two years old, has had an incredible career, starting as a kid, continuing through college and amateur levels.
After turning pro at 18, he was ranked number one in the world in less than a year and set a record for being number one on the planet from August 1999 to September 2004 and from June 2005 to October 2010. Picked Pro Player of the Year 11 times. Became the youngest ever grand slam golfer, second only to Jack Nicklaus in the number of majors won. Even now, with his major successes far behind him, he is among the world’s highest-paid athletes – Woods earned $37 million in 2016.
So why then has the legendary player become a household name in recent years? John McEnroe, known for his sharp tongue, commenting on Novak Djokovic’s recent career slumps, quipped: “The first thing that comes to mind is Tiger Woods.” How so?
