Tiger Woods’ latest nonsense shows a complete disdain for golf

OPINION

TIGER Woods has stage fright.

One of the greatest players of all time, winner of 14 major championships and 79 career PGA tournaments, is afraid to walk to the first tee and show his game in public.

Woods is a mess.

His stunning decision Monday to withdraw from this week’s Safeway Open, a tournament he committed to play in just three days before, is an unfortunate display of his complete disregard for the game.

Woods committed to play the Safeway Open on Friday, causing a frenzy of interest in the tournament with ticket sales doubled and hotels within miles of the course booked. And three days later, he withdrew, leaving the tournament officials and sponsors with egg on their faces, thousands of fans in a lurch, some out of money spent and everyone involved out of luck.

On September 7, Woods, who last played in a tournament August 23, 2015, at the Wyndham Championship before having another back procedure, announced on his website he “hoped” to play three events, beginning with the Safeway Open and including the Turkish Airlines Open November 3-6 and his own tournament, the Hero World Challenge, December 1-4 — the only one he still plans to play.

“After a lot of soul-searching and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey,” Woods wrote Monday on his website.

“My health is good, and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be. When I announced last week I was going to Safeway, I had every intention of playing, or I wouldn’t have committed.

“I practiced the last several days in California, but after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn’t ready to compete against the best golfers in the world.”

How could Woods not have known Friday, when he committed to play, his game was not ready for prime time before withdrawing Monday?

If this were health-related, his withdrawal would be totally understandable. But it is not.

Was Woods hitting it sideways Friday, when he committed, figuring he’d have it fixed by Monday? This, by the way, after reports a week ago quoted Jesper Parnevik on how Woods was flushing it in practice down in Florida.

Notah Begay, one of Woods’ small roster of confidants, told the Golf Channel on Monday that “not having enough reps in” prior to the Safeway Open was the issue. Begay said Woods told him, “It’s just not there, man.”

Was it there Friday and not there Monday?

Eventually, Woods has to turn up and play. And yes, as unfair as it may be, he’ll be under more scrutiny than any player in the history of the game — regardless of when he brings his game out of hiding.

Woods was scheduled to play in the Wednesday pro-am at the Silverado Resort with NBA star Steph Curry and to be paired for the first two rounds with Phil Mickelson, who always relishes playing with Woods.

But Woods, whose world ranking has tumbled to 786th, clearly wanted no part of being paired with Mickelson for fear Mickelson, who has been in top form this year (most recently highlighted by his incredible performance at the Ryder Cup), would outclass him for two days.

“This isn’t what I wanted to happen, but I will continue to strive to be able to play tournament golf,” Woods said. “I’m close, and I won’t stop until I get there.’’

“I’m close.” This is another refrain we’ve been hearing from Woods for too long.

Everyone was looking forward to Woods returning this week. There’s a fascination attached to him coming back. We all wonder where his game is and how close he can come to the greatness that had him on a fast track toward shattering Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships.

But the more things like Monday happen with Woods, the more he becomes an unfortunate sideshow, detracting from what’s most important, which is his golf and his comeback to the game.

Eventually, people are going to stop caring, not only about how he plays whenever he comes back but whether he comes back at all.

Quite frankly, the more nonsense like Monday’s occurs, it really makes you wonder how badly Woods wants to come back at all.