Tiger Woods' return to form is huge - Ryder Cup 2018 could be all about him
Thomas Bjorn has done what every good captain has to and dismissed the notion that any of his team “fear” Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup this week. But believe me, any European who draws him will not enjoy their normal sleep patterns.
It the same for us, back in the day, but I used to say I relished playing Woods because it was like cutting the head off the snake. It was like two or three points if you beat him and the confidence would flow through our teamroom and the negativity would flood through theirs.
We had nothing to lose when we played him and everything to win. I honestly think it was central to Europe’s success for a long time.
So what has changed? Why can’t Bjorn implore his team to adopt the same mindset. What has changed is Tiger – and, more to the point, his teammates’ attitude to Tiger. He has this second chance and is plainly loving it. Nothing seems like a chore anymore. And the kids on the US team are just delighted to have him, a legend in their midst. Somebody to inspire them, not intimidate.
Sunday’s win was incredible. It was one of those situations where you knew it was coming – after all, his form of the last six months has been screaming that he was a trophy waiting to happen – but you were still shocked to see it. Of course, that is because of where Woods has come from in this staggering comeback. We believed we would never see this again.
In a way it makes me laugh all of these people, saying “sorry for writing you off, Tiger”. Because even he had written himself off, for goodness sake.
Woods was telling people at the Champions’ Dinner at last year’s Masters, “I’m done”. He couldn’t see a way back because of all the pain he has experienced. But here he is and it is truly fantastic for our sport. It is also truly fantastic for the US Ryder Cup team, however.
Woods is up for this. He wants to be one of the lads, he wants to show these young guns what he’s got and that he can still be the man. His time as an assistant captain at the last Ryder Cup in Hazeltine opened his eyes to how to be a part of the group. He embraced the role, took on the mantle of team tactician, and bonded with the players. With Tiger in the teamroom it used to be 11 and 1 – now he is an integral part of the group.
It helps as well that Woods has become a sort of mentor to the likes of Justin Thomas. Woods would never have dreamed of passing on advice to his rivals before, but the state he was in he did not see them as rivals. So this lot don’t view Tiger as his team-mates used to see him before. He is no longer just the great individual. He is an asset now and that was not the case before.
Woods’ victory could not have been any better-timed for Jim Furyk. Bjorn would have had his head his hands. Why now, of all times, Tiger? Why couldn’t he have waited until the Masters, to win?
Furthermore, as a golfer he will enjoy Le Golf National. It’s a thinker’s course and there is no better strategist than Woods. Somehow, he has recovered his swing speed and has the power to blast it if he wants. But he showed at Hoylake at the Open in 2006 that he has the remarkable personal discipline to resist unfurling the big clubs and play for position. And his putting will do the rest.
That’s why he won the Tour Championship – he began holing putts. As soon as he got hot with the flat-stick he was going to prevail. The Ryder Cup is 75 per cent about putting and the greens in Versailles are pure and true and if that form remains then I can see him making a hugely positive impact this week.
One of the reasons Furyk will be so thrilled is the fitness he has showed. He has played four of the last five weeks and while some of his younger rivals displayed obvious fatigue in Atlanta, Tiger was there at the end, marching on strongly. He simply would not have believed that would be possible a year ago, or probably even a few months ago, despite the quick progress he made at the start of this comeback.
Woods returned after his spinal fusion saying he had to manage his condition and I am certain that he is doing less in the gym and on the range than he used to. But playing that much golf against the very best takes it out of you and the fact he has not only come through this but come through it with a trophy only highlights his well-being. He could play five. He could win five. It could be all about Tiger Woods, once more.
Colin Montgomerie is an ambassador of Aberdeen Standard Investments – proud Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup
