Tiger Woods' Epic Masters Comeback Was Years in the Making
The term superstar has origins that go back to a cricket sportswriter's description in 1832.
Now, after this weekend's events at the Masters, another opportunity has arisen to revisit the original intent of the term:
A superstar is someone whose celebrity has transcended his or her profession to widespread public awareness.
As if there was ever any doubt, Tiger Woods is a true superstar.
Most sports victories make headlines on sports site and pages. Big ones might grace the front page if its a home team or hero.
A superstar's big win makes the front page everywhere.
In claiming his fifth green jacket and the 15th major of his career, Tiger did something he'd never before accomplished in golf's four traditional tournaments:
Dude won after trailing for the first 54 holes.
The magic began in the gauntlet known as Amen Corner when Francesco Molinari found water and only built from there:
His journey to this point has been a classic Greek drama of rise, fall, and redemption. In the latter:
- Woods fell to the World No 1199 before turning the competitive corner,
- In Jan 2018, dude made a PGA Tour cut,
- In May 2018, he put himself in contention to win the TPC, and
- In Jul 2018, he was in the conversation at the British Open.
What's more, Woods has gone back to his original basics, re-creating the swing that forced courses to Tiger-proof them.
It seems he's rediscovered himself in the process, too.
Jack Nicklaus won his last major at the impressive age of 46. Tiger's 43. This win at Augusta and the relentless route he took to achieve it will put him back in the conversation for other major titles in the near future.
Bovada's already installed him as the PGA Championship favorite in June. Dude opened a 8:1.
Clearly, he's bankable again. This time around, though, it doesn't seem like that's as high a priority as it once was.
A moment between a father and a son.#themasters pic.twitter.com/Ft0ta2mD5o
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 14, 2019
Tiger's kids finally got to see in person what they'd only known of his career on YouTube.
In a family pride sorta way, that's progress, too.