Tiger Woods is ready for the next chapter as latest comeback unfolds starting this week

By John CherwaSpecial Contributor

Jan. 23, 2017 7:54 PM PT

Tiger Woods looked very comfortable in a black pullover with the distinctive swoosh, seated behind a microphone in front of an overflow crowd of media and guests at Riviera Country Club. He was there on this rainy and cold Monday morning to push the Genesis Open, a tournament run by his company and benefiting his charity.

It’s been a quarter century since we’ve seen Tiger Woods play in the tournament more recognizable as the L.A. Open.

“I’ve always loved playing Riv,” Woods said. “I just never played it well. It’s the only reason” he didn’t play here for so long.

The ease with which Woods answered questions about everything from a golf club he found in the Bahamas to the state of President Trump’s golf game was a sign of a man who is finally comfortable with both himself and his place on the Mt. Rushmore of this sport.

This latest comeback — he’s played only one tournament in 18 months — will not tarnish his legacy should he stumble. It will only enhance his legend should he succeed.

“I’ve won a few times on tour,” Woods said as he hustled from one interview session to the next. “And a few majors. I know either way I’ll be a part of golf history with what I’ve done. I’m just looking forward to competing and playing again.”

A pretty big part of golf history.

“You go back to when he came on the [PGA] Tour and what a big deal that was,” said sports historian Richard Crepeau, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Central Florida. “He won the amateur three years in a row and then declared pro in ’96. From that point in time the tour has never been the same.”

Woods’ length off the tee changed the game. Golf courses were redesigned to compensate — even Augusta National, home of the Masters.

Television ratings soared when he was in contention and languished when he skipped a tournament. He was the face of the tour, something Woods seems to brush aside.

“I never really looked at it that way,” said Woods, winner of 14 major titles, second-most in the sport’s history. “Obviously it’s all part of playing and competing. … As for carrying the torch, I never really looked at it that way.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan sees it a little differently.

“There’s no doubt about it, Tiger being healthy and playing competitively again makes a strong PGA Tour even stronger,” Monahan said in an email to The Times. “He brings a lot of people inside and outside the game to the tour, and I think it’s going to be a great lift for the sport over the next few weeks and throughout the season.”

Woods makes his latest return Thursday at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, where he has won eight tour events. He plans to play four times in five weeks. After Torrey Pines he’ll play in Dubai (Feb. 2-5), then take a week off before the Genesis Open, followed by the Honda Classic in Palm Beach.

Woods admits playing so many tournaments so early in his recovery is a “concern.”

“If my back feels good, and I can prepare, then I know I can play,” Woods said. “I know how to shoot scores. I’ve got to be in a state where I can prepare. When I’m OK heath-wise, I know I can shoot scores. And I know I can win golf tournaments.”

Woods’ fragility started in 2008, when he won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines despite a torn knee ligament that would require reconstructive surgery. He came back after eight months and won tournaments.

Next came the fall from grace in 2009 — a very public fight with his wife, reports of infidelities and revelations that Woods had a sex addiction. He was off the tour for a little more than four months. His next comeback was slow to reach fruition, but after about a year without a title he rediscovered his winning form.

Since 2014, a series of back injuries have derailed his return.

“I’ve gone through some pretty tough lows with the procedures on my back,” Woods said. “There was a time when I didn’t know if I’d ever swing a golf club again, play with my kids, do some activities. There were some pretty tough times but I worked through it. It’s a good day now that I can compete again.”

Crepeau sees Woods’ career as somewhat like a Greek tragedy.

“It’s quite remarkable what it did and how he transformed the game,” the historian said. “Then it all came crumbing down. This is the second part of the story. We love our heroes and we love to see our heroes crash and burn.

“Now we wait for redemption. And we’re still waiting. Will we see it? I kind of doubt it.”

Woods says he still knows how to win. But it’s the competition that he especially missed.

“Watching Tiger on the golf course for more than 20 years now, nothing he does would surprise me,” Monahan said. “He’s won 79 times — he could be 75 years old and I still wouldn’t be surprised if he contended and won.”

At age 41, Woods’ next chapter will start in San Diego this week.

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