Where now for Tiger?

Today the Player's Championship will crown a new champion but the main talking point surrounding the 'fifth' Major is Thursday's withdrawal of Tiger Woods. My opinions of Woods are split as I struggle to divorce his skill from his persona. He has failed to live up to his responsibilities as a role model but has delivered such sheer brilliance on course, that these misgivings are almost forgivable. His staunchest supportershave always argued that he would regain his best form. However, the re-emergence of the knee and achilles injuries that have plagued him since Augusta, suggest that their optimism may need review.

The deterioration of his knee, and the attempts he has made to reconstruct his game to protect it, suggest to me that Woods' star is waning. There are enough mental challenges in golf without the added concern on every tee of whether your ligaments are up to the job. To play his best golf, Tiger needs to not only be fit, but also to believe that he is fit. It is this latter point, which may I fear see him limp to the end of his career.

There are some that will be non-plussed if he exits the game but I believe they are allowing their perceptions of the man cloud their recollection of his genius. There is certainly a greater fondness for him on the other side of the pond, but I think that the British public want their heroes to be engaging and entertaining on and off the course. Tiger has never displayed the charisma required to endear himself to the British public.

My own wish is for one last hurrah, followed by a gracious exit. The real pity would be if he whimpered out of the game whilst simultaneously destroying his body. Unfortunately, I fear the culmination of his golf career may be the latter...