We need to teach ourselves how to say goodbye

Tiger Woods walks across the Sarazen Bridge to reach the 15th green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2022. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Something has been bugging me since mid-last week, from the very moment the hype started over Tiger Woods playing in the Masters. My phone started lighting up with hyperbolic push notifications from the media outlets I follow, each one breathlessly touting Tiger’s return and the statement that he felt he could win the golf tournament.

TIGER THINKS HE CAN WIN MASTERS

TIGER IS BACK!

TIGER WANTS FIFTH GREEN JACKET

I looked at the 10 notifications and unconsciously scrunched my nose. Why did the media have to go off the cliff of screaming “Tiger is Back!” in such over-the-top terms? Tiger coming back to play, after nearly dying in a serious car crash on Feb. 23, 2021, is indeed a miracle worthy of reportage and celebration. But that wasn’t enough for some of the media, who went into overdrive talking about if Tiger would summon the old magic.

The golfer who won the tournament, Scottie Scheffler, came into the Masters ranked as the world No. 1 and on fire from winning three tournaments in a row. And yet, he was the also-ran mention on sportscasts showing highlights on Friday and Saturday. What did I see? All Tiger highlights. He made the cut, but blew up Saturday and Sunday.

NOT. IN. CONTENTION.

Scheffler - in contention and ignored.

A few golf-head friends texted me after he made the cut to ask what I thought about Tiger playing.

Could he win? Should we hope for the old Tiger?

I smiled, and made a big connection in my mind.

These are the same types as my tennis-head friends who want to see Roger Federer or Serena Williams enter a Grand Slam in 2022 and then will ask me if they are going to win.

My response is the same to all of them: I need to teach you how to say good-bye. Like straight up George Washington in Hamilton style.

Let’s get real:

Roger is 40, and is trying to come back from yet another knee surgery.

Serena is 40, and has been plagued for a while by ankle and knee issues, plus a serious blood clotting issue that nearly killed her after giving birth.

Tiger is 46, and has overcome addiction, multiple knee surgeries, back issues, and yeah, a car crash that nearly cost him everything.

They are all the best ever in their sports, plus dominated pop culture, advertising and transcended their countries. You’re big if you’re on a first name basis in Dubai or Des Moines.

Which brings me back to the hype machines of mainstream media, social media and the intersecting ad worlds. The overhyping of Tiger being BACK and the jumping to the wishful conclusion of contending for the Master’s serves many. Nike can throw their sentimental ads out there. Sports talk radio and social media machines can gin up interaction by conjuring memories of red-shirt, black-pants Tiger strolling up 18 en route to winning the championship.

CBS and ESPN can show all the Tiger footage of yore. Sports writers can wax eloquent about Tiger’s talent and do the what if’s.

All of it comes back to fantasy. Not reality. Victory for Tiger in 2022 was never going to amount to a trip to Butler Cabin for another green jacket. Victory is that he is alive, able to walk, and yeah, maybe, just maybe, can try to compete against men 20 years younger. That is a miracle and a victory.

Same goes for Serena and Roger. If they show up at Wimbledon (betting on Gram Slam grass for both of them over their dreaded clay of Roland Garros), we should not start the will Roger/Serena win drivel. Their victory is being there, playing, and we can’t expect much more.

We want the magic to last. We want the unstoppable Tiger to return. We want to see the graceful and fast Roger, flying around the court with ease. And we want to see Serena own the court with her power and ferocity.

They still have embers of their magic left, but they cannot stay on that level long enough to win a tournament. Golf and tennis tournaments are physical grinds. There are no subs coming off the bench to give you a rest. Tiger has to walk the hilly courses on his rebuilt leg and knees. Serena and Roger will endure younger opponents that grew up emulating their games, and now have their craft honed to now defeat their fading heroes. Roger, Serena and Tiger used to win tournaments just by showing up, with their opponents already mentally losing to them in the parking lot.

That is no longer true. The strong are no longer invincible. The younger ones are no longer afraid. Roger, Tiger, and Serena are human, like all of us. Life has worn their bodies down, and accidents have claimed parts of their strength.

Yes, Tiger is BACK.

Serena says she is coming back to Wimbledon.

Roger is practicing away.

Good for them. Get it while you can.

But the next time Tiger plays or my favorite players take the court, I am going to frame things correctly in my mind: I will appreciate their massive rehab efforts to get back out there, marvel at the shots they can still pull off, and leave all other expectations at the door. We need to accept them for who they are now, and not unfairly define their lives with our unreasonable expectations based on their epic pasts.

And don’t send me a text message asking if they’re going to win.

Open Court publishes on Tuesdays and Fridays, bringing you the stuff we need to talk about with author and sports journalist Joanne C. Gerstner.

We need to teach ourselves how to say goodbye

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