Passing of the torch

Tiger Woods played competitive golf over the weekend at one of golf's "silly season" events, The Hero World Challenge.  This is nothing more than an opportunity for 18 of the sports current celebrities to gather in the Bahamas and get a big payday with little or no pressure.  The addition of Wood's, the tournament's putative host was designed to add luster to an otherwise pedestrian event.  Woods has not played a competitive round in nearly two years and the game has probably passed him by.  At nearly 40 years of age with a thrice surgically repaired back and the knees of a 60 year old, he can't drive the ball with the big boys anymore and his putting stroke looks more than a little rusty.  Yet the commentators want him to be the Tiger of 2001-2009 when he dominated the PGA tour like a colossus.  It would be good for the game if he was able to regain the mantle of invincibility and swat away challenges from the likes of Dustin Johnson, Rory and even Phil, but judging by what he showed on the weekend, it looks like the new model Tiger is just another PGA middle of the pack golfer who will cash a big check most weeks, but play mostly forgettable golf.  It will be a sad end to a glorious career if Woods allows it to happen.