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Even a Wounded and Rusty Tiger Woods Apparently Has No Challengers

The mice will play while the cat’s away. Unless the mice just play dead.

A year ago Tiger Woods went under the knife. His misfortune was an opportunity for others. Yet halfway through the 2009 golf season no one has unseated Woods at the top of the most coveted annual statistical performance categories.

PGA Tour players should be embarrassed that Woods has so readily returned to greatness after reconstructive knee surgery and a nine-month absence from the PGA Tour.

A year after his surgery, just four months following his return and after playing only nine events this year, Woods now leads the PGA Tour money list. He also has the most tournament wins, the most playoff points and the lowest scoring average. Perhaps most embarrassing given how infrequently he plays, no one on Tour has as many Top 10 finishes this year.

Leading various statistics despite playing only part-time is nothing new for Woods. He does this every year. But this time the man was out of action for most of the last year. Could no one else capitalize on his absence?

Most players, with a few exceptions for injury or personal issues, must feel humiliated that they squandered their chance. They seem as powerless to stop him as ever. His victories are narrow, but at mid-year he’s still the man to beat.

Even if he doesn’t win the British Open or PGA Championship this year, Woods again appears likely to win more tournaments than anyone despite giving the field a two-month head start.

Rather than further adulate Woods (his exploits are well documented), we’re saddened that so few players on the PGA Tour stepped up and succeeded while Tiger rehabbed his leg and shook off the rust.

Sure, Padraig Harrington won two majors while Woods was away and Kenny Perry has enjoyed an impressive streak of success. Good for them. But only a small handful of players really shined in the past year while Woods wasn’t casting an enormous shadow. If ever there was opportunity for would-be rivals to strike it was while Woods was wounded.

Last year, Woods almost topped the money list (he finished second) while playing only six times. In the end, Vijay Singh won more money but had to play nearly four times as many events to do it. This year, Woods is back atop the standings. Why are Singh, Jim Furyk or Ernie Els not leading the way instead, even if only temporarily? Where are David Toms, Justin Leonard or Stewart Cink? All are among the Top 10 career prize money leaders.

Other players are obviously trying hard to win. Winning is difficult. But Woods has made it look easy even while he was supposedly still recovering. He’s won three times already this year at a rate (33 percent) slightly higher than his career average (28 percent).

Did no one else work as hard as the injured Woods during the offseason? Are hundreds of the world’s most elite professional golfers all so significantly less talented than Woods that even after an extended break he still has no challengers? It sure seems that way.

Our admiration for Tiger’s accomplishments is now surpassed by embarrassment over the lackluster play of other competitors. We’re less impressed by Woods’ skill and more ashamed that others don’t come to play. The apparent lack of ambition from challengers is disappointing.

Current players are not going to supplant a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Woods over the long term. He’s likely to be remembered as the greatest golfer ever. However, someone should have been able to steal the spotlight for even just half a season.

No one kicked the man when he was down and now it looks like it’s too late.

-Corey

Corey Grice has perfect hindsight and knows a missed opportunity when he sees one. Follow his golf commentary and complaints on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GolferWriterGuy or on Facebook. Read more NiceBallz content at http://twitter.com/NiceBallz or http://golf.puma.com.