US Open 2013: Tiger’s turbulent comeback deserves a perfect ending at Merion
Probably the only guy who isn’t stressing on the most popular Major drought in the game is Tiger himself. While critics are busy writing off his chances to make it big one more time, Tiger on the other hand is relishing his best PGA tour start of his career. He’s won 4 out of his eight appearances on the course this season to reclaim his No.1 crown. Moreover, barring the unfortunate set of events in the third round of Augusta, his first Major run of the year was devoid of any performance-related hiccups. All and all, there isn’t much Tiger could do to stake a better claim of winning his 4th US Open title this weekend.
Yet in golf, especially in Tiger’s world of limitless aspirations, a Major win is that ultimate stage of penance that he’s been seeking since his return to the game from his darkest of hours. And on the historic piece of estate in the name of Merion Golf Club, this US Open certainly offers Tiger a chance to script a fairy-tale return to his prime, like his fellow predecessors. In 1930, it was Bobby Jones who completed his relentless quest of completing a Grand Slam of Majors here, while the 1950 US Open saw a surreal ‘1-iron beauty’ from Ben Hogan that underlined his historic comeback from an effectively career-ending car-crash. Two contrasting situations, answered with a similar shot-making panache to etch themselves in golfing memoirs forever. And when one looks around the 155-men field slated for Thursday morning, it’s difficult to find anyone but Tiger – as a gutsy shot-maker or as a story screaming for an ending – to give us another picture-perfect Merion moment for another few decades to come.
However, it’s not going to be any easier for Tiger and he, for once, understands the complications involved better than anyone else. Given his liking for the expansive driving range and lightening fast fairways, Tiger should be more than disappointed by the fact that he’ll have to grind it out on the smallest golf course used for a Major in more than a decade. Can it get any worse for Tiger? Well, how about a 4.7 inch rainfall in the build-up week to drench the greens for the tourney? Had he asked for the most alien situation to face on a Major weekend, this setup would be termed as just about ideal. His favourite par-5s are limited to the front-nine, a blind tee-shot is like a compulsory dish on the menu and the last five holes are tailored to doom the best golfers in the game. No one still knows what’s the best score to feel safe on the course, while the traditional wicker baskets replacing the flag-sticks on the pins call for a rather difficult outing for the caddies keeping a track of the wind.
“I don’t think we have an exact feel for it yet, what we’re going to have to do and what we’re going to have to shoot — the conditions keep changing, However, I’ve played Opens under both conditions where it’s dry and soft. I’ve won on both conditions, which is nice.” – Woods, on the playing conditions after finishing a practice round at the Merion.
