Tiger Woods was in the news for more than a decade for laying waste to a field of hapless adversaries on the PGA Tour. Four years ago, after crashing his car near his home in Florida in the early-morning hours after Thanksgiving, Woods hit the tabloids as the public focus suddenly shifted toward revelations about the deteriorating home life and infidelity of one of the world’s most bankable professional athletes.
The scandal, along with a series of injuries that have kept him off the course for extended periods of time since 2008, stalled the golfer’s progress toward Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 majors—once considered a foregone conclusion as Woods sprinted past the field during his prime. With sponsors cutting ties en masse and a new generation of challengers led by Northern Ireland’s Rory
McIlroy rising up around him in the interim, it has become increasingly difficult for Woods, now 37, to make up the lost ground.
But none of that ever seems to matter at Torrey Pines. The La Jolla, Calif. course has been the site of several memorable performances throughout Woods’ career; in all, the 10-time Player of the Year has won eight tournaments held at the venue, including six wins at the Buick Invitational along with his last major title, a dramatic playoff victory over Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open in 2008.
After fog caused the cancellation of play on Saturday, the event now referred to as the Farmers Insurance Open wrapped up its final round on Monday, and Woods, who had built an eight-shot lead going into the last five holes, ran away with the title. It was the sort of dominant play that fans have come to expect from Woods at Torrey Pines, even as tournament victories have gotten more and more scarce.
Though Woods has proven in spurts that his legendary game has not completely abandoned him, consistent results have eluded him at the season’s biggest events. And with McIlroy digging in at the top of the rankings and firmly establishing himself as the player to beat at any tournament he enters, opportunities like this will continue to dwindle. The Torrey Pines win was the 75th of Woods’ career, bringing him within seven of the all-time record held by Sam Snead. But the four major titles that separate Woods and
Nicklaus is now a much greater distance to cross.
Woods, back up to number two on the strength of four titles in the last 10 months and quickly developing a healthy rivalry with 23-year-old McIlroy, is still among the handful of serious contenders on the PGA Tour. Wins like this one have become the clear exception, though, and it remains to be seen if he has enough left to make one final push for the top spot and grind his way past the final few barriers standing between him and Nicklaus. At this point in his career, it may prove to be a bit too much to ask. But if last weekend was any indication, the matter isn’t settled just yet.