Solid season for Tiger Woods but no award
Tiger Woods had a terrible 2011 year. All that could go wrong for a sportsman did go wrong eventually for Tiger. He suffered an Achilles heel injury, failed to qualify for FedEx Cup and he astonishingly failed to make it inside the top-125 on the money tour
list as well.
Now after one whole year, when he has performed to the best of his abilities, the PGA Tour authorities decided not to name him for the comeback of the year category.
Despite coming back from a terrible season and winning three times during the year, along with that finishing second on the money list, he has not been named for the comeback of the year category.
Why? Because the PGA Tour has decided to change the criteria for the award. This award was started in 1991 and usually it was given to those players who made a terrific comeback after a serious injury.
Tiger Woods was well suited in this but now the criterion has been amended.
From now on, it will be awarded to the player "who through courage and perseverance has overcome extraordinary adversity, such as a personal tragedy or debilitating illness, to make a significant and meaningful contribution to the game of golf".
The PGA Tour comeback of the year award will be decided by the commissioner Tim Finchmen, along with the four players who are on the committee.
Moreover, it is not necessary that this awarded has to be given to a player every year. If there is a suitable candidate for the award, only then will it be presented.
Back in 2009 and 2011, this award was not presented, as there was no one who fitted in the category.
Steve Stricker is only man to win this award twice that too in consecutive years.
Andy Pazder, the Tour's Chief of Operations, said, “potential candidates down the road could include Jarrod Lyle, who is in Australia recovering from a recurrence of leukemia, or even someone like Chris Smith, whose life suffered a crushing setback when
his wife was killed in a car crash”.
It is somewhat unfair with Tiger Woods. Even after playing so well this year, considering the situation he was in last year, he will not be getting this award.
Achilles heel injury is a very serious injury and recovering from it does take a great deal of effort and time.
The way Tiger managed through and now that he is back to world number two in the Official World Golf Rankings, he does deserve some credit for it.
As far as the other awards are concerned, there are not many doubts over the player of the year award. Rory McIlroy is the firm favorite after his magnificent season.
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