Tiger Returns, The Field Quakes

After 8 months of hard work repairing a knee and fractured leg, Tiger Woods returned to the course today at the Accenture Match-Play Championships. One of the most fiercest athletes and competitors of our era, winning 10 of his last 13 events, Woods’ returned has recharged a sport that has seen a 60% drop of interest by fans since Woods’ win at the U.S. Open and subsequent knee surgery and rehabilitation. Woods’ return can restart a sport that is struggling to make money and to hold the interest of fans.

It is impressive how one person can control so much interest in a sport that has so many players involved. But Woods’ dominance in the game of Golf can be difficult to compare to many other accomplishments. HIs ability to win and the character and class with which he has handled his fame is exemplary and worthy of mention here at the EverdayQB.

Woods is quoting as saying, “As a kid, I might have been psycho, I guess, but I used to throw golf balls in the trees and try and somehow make par from them. I thought that was fun.” Woods challenged himself, even when he was a kid, to respond and succeed under difficult circumstances. I can’t help but wonder how his willingness to challenge himself, to learn how to adjust and succeed in the rough, in the trees, might have factored into his rehabilitation and work to get back to the playing level that he will most definitely be at today.

Preparing to succeed when you wind up in the rough is an important practice of living a successful life. Do you imagine or prepare for situations when you might be in a difficult place, and do you practice or prepare for how you will respond?

You can follow Woods’ opening round today online with updates from Jason Sobel at ESPN.