Tiger Woods Rises Again
Tiger Woods’ historic comeback victory Sunday at the The Masters Tournament shows the enduring star — and earning — power of a player once dropped by many sponsors because of his problems on and off the golf course.
“It’s crazy to think a 43-year-old who has experienced every high and every low and has just won his 15th major …. is chasing the same dream as a 3-year-old,” a new Nike ad says.
President Trump announced Monday that he will award Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, “because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE.”
At 43, Woods is the second-oldest winner of the Masters. In 1986 Jack Nicklaus won The Masters for a sixth time when he was 46.
And after Woods’ momentous victory Sunday, multiple sponsors are celebrating his resilience. At the end of the Nike ad, a very young Woods is seen on camera saying: “I’m going to beat Jack Nicklaus.”
Woods now has 15 major wins, compared to 18 for Nicklaus. “I felt for a long time that he was going to win again. … He’s got me shaking in my boots, guys,” Nicklaus told the Golf Channel after Tiger’s victory.
TaylorMade, a golf club manufacturer and another sponsor of Woods, is promoting the hashtag “#NeverDone” – a reference to the player’s longevity.
Tiger last won the Masters Tournament in 2005 – the longest period ever between wins in that tournament. Since then, he’s gone through a high-profile sex scandal and major injuries.
