Why I've Tracked Tiger Woods for 30 Years: The Surprising Reason He’ll Return to Golf

THE question every golf fan is asking after Tiger Woods withdrew from next week’s Masters is whether we will ever see him play tournament golf again.

Can the – looking older than his 50 years – really come back from yet another public relations disaster?

Every golf fan wants to know if Tiger Woods will play another tournamentCredit: Reuters He has once again been charged with driving under the influenceCredit: Getty The 50-year-old’s Land Rover was flipped over when foundCredit: Reuters

Even some of ’s most loyal supporters are suggesting he should step away from the limelight permanently.

The evidence that should do exactly that seems overwhelming.

But whatever you do, don’t bet your house on it happening.

Woods is arguably the greatest golfer of all time, even though Jack Nicklaus won three more Majors than Tiger’s 15.

But after 30 years of covering Woods, it is clear he also belongs in the very top tier of utterly shameless egomaniacs, who seem to believe they should be judged by different standards to the rest of us.

Gruesome injuries have kept him on the sidelines for long periods. A reluctant acceptance that he “may” have been guilty of anti-social behaviour is unlikely to have the same result.

On each of the three previous occasions when – or while under the influence of his daily cocktail of mind-numbing painkillers, not of – there have been public expressions or remorse, followed by a return to action as quickly as possible.

The common theme has been: “OK, I’ll admit I’m sorry – now how long should I leave it before I can assume the public has forgiven me?”

, and a desire to see just how far he can push the bar – even with a body you feel should ultimately be donated to science fiction rather than just science – is another irresistible drug.

Seven back operations? Surgery on his legs on more than twenty occasions? Part of the process. Just hand me a club.

The baby-faced young winner has had a messy private life play out in publicCredit: Getty After 30 years of covering the American, he is in the top tier of utterly shameless egomaniacsCredit: Getty

Even when the – and led to him being divorced by the mother of his two children, Elin Nordegren, despite a public vow to “seek treatment” – he was playing at Augusta a couple of months later.

It tells you a lot about Woods that many people still felt he would be back at next week, despite crashing into the back of a truck and being dragged out of the passenger door of his overturned car just a week ago.

It is a miracle no one else has been injured when a spaced-out Woods has climbed behind the wheel.

His own injuries underline how lucky he is in that regard.

He almost killed himself in the crash in five years ago that saw him roll his car over several times after trying to take a bend at almost 90 miles an hour.

His surgeons performed wonders to save his right leg. But simply walking is sheer agony these days.

After more than a year out of the game, Woods somehow defied his injuries to make the cut at the Masters in 2022.

He managed to do it again in 2023. And AGAIN in 2024.

His golfing greatness and his bloody-minded grit are not in doubt. But his body will never fully heal, and .

Talk of him taking over the captaincy has been put to bed . It shouldn’t have even been up for debate, given his blatant disregard for his fellow man.

, whose inspirational fightback from brain surgery culminated in , would be a much better option, especially as he served as a vice captain last year.

There was no time frame involved when Woods announced he will not attend the Masters.

He was due to open a municipal course he designed for the green jackets on Sunday, and attend Tuesday’s Champions Dinner, even if he had not been fit enough to play.

He simply declared: “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.

“This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my wellbeing and work towards lasting recovery.”

. It is a question of when, not if.