Tiger Woods: Champ or Chump?

Tiger Woods failed at this year’s U.S. Open. Or did he?

According to the PTI’s and Around the Horns of the world, Woods is a failure and has lost his swagger and edge that has helped him win 12 major championships.

For the second consecutive major of the season, Woods was unable to mount a Sunday charge for a victory, leaving him 0-for-29 in relation to coming from behind to win a major.

In April, Woods came up short in his pursuit of Zach Johnson, who claimed the 2007 Masters – and his first major championship – by two strokes.

Angel Cabrera can now be slumped into the group of “no-names” who have defeated Woods on a Sunday in a major.

But, does Woods’ recent “struggle” really give any indication that he has passed his peak?

Absolutely not.

The man is still the man. He is the best golfer on the planet. When he retires – barring an extreme circumstance – he should be considered the best golfer of all-time.

Give the man some credit. He has had a lot on his plate during the past couple years. Marriage. Death. And now a birth to a daughter. Despite those distractions, Tiger still captured two of the four majors last year in the British Open and PGA Championship.

Tiger’s critics will continue to criticize as long as he fails to win majors. How can the Tony Kornheisers and Michael Wilbons of the world criticize a man who has won 57 official tournaments (Tiger has three wins and two runner-up finishes in 2007 out of 10 entries), 12 majors and quite frankly changed the world’s perspective on golf over the past decade?

Without Tiger Woods, there is no golf worth covering.

As for the other big guns on the PGA tour, there is nobody with the pizzazz and explosion of Woods. Els is foreign. Furyk is boring with an ugly swing. Mickelson continues to break everybody’s hearts with his late-round blow-ups.

It is players like Woods who continue to impress and amaze galleries with clutch shots such as his miraculous chip on the 16th at Augusta in 2005 or his incredible eagle from 209 yards out with a 4-iron at the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool.

Woods dazzles. He amazes. But most importantly, he entertains. Woods has the power to hype up what is stereotypically a dreary experience.

So, back to the original question. Is Woods a champ or chump? He may struggle from time to time, but every champion does. Not every dynasty is consistently superior. Just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. Super Bowl champions in 2006. Nothing short of disaster in 2007.

Woods, just like the Steelers, will regroup and recover.

But, I do not feel too sorry for Tiger. He has his 12 major championship trophies to keep him company.