This year’s event is set to be gripping viewing for even the most casual of golf fan and maybe even a few who’ve never even seen a golf ball being hit. That of course is all down to one man, or more to the point, one man’s off the course misdemeanours, as Tiger Woods makes his return to the game after five months off following his by now world renowned private life problems.
Never before has a sportsman’s off the course antics caused so much of a furor, but then again never before has a sportsman transcended his game as much as Woods has since he won this very event by a record 12 strokes as a fresh faced 21 year old back in 1997. The rumours and jokes about just how many mistresses Woods had on the go over the past few years will undoubtedly follow him to the grave and now he’s also had to deny allegations that he used performance enhancing drugs. The allegations followed the arrest of Anthony Galea on illegal drugs offences, Galea helped Woods recover from his knee injury in 2008, but Woods denied any wrong doing in a press conference on Monday, saying “He (Galea) never gave me HGH or any PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs)”, adding "I've never taken that in my entire life. I've never taken any illegal drug, ever, for that matter." Woods also confirmed that wife Elin Nordegren will not be attending the event.
It’s doubtful that Woods will ever again be known as just a golfer and he can expect chants of “In the hole, Tiger” wherever he goes from now on. What shouldn’t be forgotten however is how good a golfer he is and just how many new fans his precocious talent has brought to a game once known more for silly hats, posh shoes and old fashioned views. The fact that Woods is still clear favourite at a stingy 9/2 with most bookmakers, despite barely swinging a club in 5 months, tells you how highly he’s regarded in the game. If Woods can manage a sensational win this weekend then it would be his 15th major and would move him to within three of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.
