Watching the golfers right now on Fox ...
He is so far away from where he should be. So far away from his prime.
And it is sad watching him in the weeds of the U.S. Open (the whole course looks weedy), struggling to hold his composure. To go on. And maybe find a road back.
And I struggle too. Sure, he is a cold player, and he's done many things unflattering. That was then, which seems to be discretely vanishing into a mist of hallowed history.
Watching him, now, struggling to find a way back forms the portrait of a fallen star, grappling for a genius missing in action, a talent once so effortless, now so tragically elusive. Most humbling of all, the golfer he once was -- and likely will never be again.
.
Most heartening is the cheering good will of the crowd. Compassionate fans in need. Yes to their participation. I've heard he's been booed at certain recent contests, which strikes me as callously malicious. Not here.
For you of the circus, it would be like watching the Great Sebastian, returning to the trapeze and giving every fiber of his being, every careful breath of air, just to bring off a single somersault through mid-air.
He made one great stroke. The crowd cheered wildly. Tiger smiled, gratefully.
To see him smile that way -- I saw a flickering glow of hope seeping through a darkening face of torn bark, shadowed in anguish -- the picture of searing humility heroically faced.
Half hour later. It is getting almost unbearable to watch. Tiger Tiger, burning out? .... A Greek Tragedy on this ugly duckling of a golf course. I've gone back to watching Larry King talk to Ralph Nader.
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