At the WGC Bridgestone Invitational concluded yesterday in Akron, Ohio, two fairy tales took place, one rose, that of Rory who, with 15 strokes under par, won the world championship, after the most important Major, the Open Championship of two weeks ago. With this victory, the twenty-five-year-old Northern Irishman returns to being number one in the world and, after 11 weeks, dethrones the Australian Adam Scott, snubbed without restraint by the American director, even though he finished his tournament in eighth position.
The other fable is that of Tiger, but unfortunately it is tinged with black or grey, if we don't want to be too pessimistic. The champion, the King of Akron, the one who won this tournament eight times, including last year, got hurt again and had to retire on the 9th hole of the fourth round. Tiger was playing terribly, the balls were going everywhere but in the right direction and the movement was violent and uncoordinated. But this isn't the worst thing, the problem is that he has had a new spasm in his back, the same pain that last March 31 forced him to have a microdiscectomy for a pinched nerve.
The champion left the field with a limp, moving with difficulty, as if pain blocked him completely and when he reached the car he was unable to even bend down to untie his shoes. The pain, according to what he said shortly after, began on hole two, after hitting the ball in the rough and falling into the bunker. “I felt a jolt and the spasms started. I continued to play, but the pain intensified and gripped my entire lower back. I do not know what happened".
Tiger has accustomed us to miracles, he has already risen from his ashes at least a couple of times, after his last knee surgery and after breaking up with his wife. This time however it seems different. “There is no comparison between a knee and a back – he said at the press conference before the race – Rehabilitation for the former is much easier. Most of the people I've talked to who have had surgeries similar to this don't understand how I came back here to play."
The first unknown at this point is his participation in the PGA next week. If the problem had reappeared in all its seriousness, Tiger will certainly not be able to play. Although the show suffers, because the whole world wants him on the pitch, he'd better stay home. To see him play so badly, without any hope, is quite sad. Especially at this time when Rory's star obscures every sun, Tiger's light really seems to be setting. The tour was looking for a new champion and, it must be admitted, found him. Rory is incredibly powerful, but he's also hungry for victories and relentless with opponents. Today he is precise in approaching the flag and confident on the greens. After breaking up with his girlfriend, he threw himself headlong into golf and won everything by force, showing an impressive superiority. He wanted to be world number one again and in a few months he did it.
Tiger, beyond the obligations he certainly has with his sponsors, must take care of himself and above all must find a swing that allows him to go forward, if he can and if he wants. It was hoped that this intervention had been decisive, but perhaps he returned to the field too soon, perhaps his body, so athletic, at almost 40 years old (he turns 39 in December) can no longer cope with these rhythms. His opponents today are young and eager to conquer the world. The old king of the forest no longer roars and is no longer frightening.
It's true that last year he won 5 tournaments, but no Majors and when his great season had to start again, his run-up to Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 Majors, this new tile arrived, one of the worst herniated discs. The future of the champion, at this point, is uncertain: Pga, Playoffs, Rayder Cup are the first very important appointments which, 99% will miss. Then he'll talk about it again next year. Times are getting longer and also the chronological age is growing.
As far as the tournament standings are concerned, Sergio Garcia's umpteenth second place must be recorded. The great Spanish player had three strokes ahead of Rory in the fourth round, but lost them all in the first 5 holes, overwhelmed by the strength and precision of the Northern Irishman. Garcia failed to react adequately, he didn't have the ability to show the solid game of the day before on the greens. Too bad for the Spaniard, who remains one of the best and fittest players of the moment. Francesco Molinari finished mid-table, thirty-first, -1 under par and today he is already at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, together with Matteo Manassero, to begin preparation for the last Major, which begins on Thursday.
It is an important testing ground for the two Italians, both for their possible participation in the Ryder Cup and for the possibility of entering the American circuit with full rights next year starting in the next few weeks.
Finally, a last note: during the Akron tournament it was discovered that Dustin Johnson, number five in the world, temporarily withdrew from competition due to a drug problem. Apparently this is the third time Dustin has been caught with something in his system.
