It is a misconception that Valhalla is Norse for heaven. It is the mythical place where slain Norse warriors go when they die.
And I can’t help but think how apt it was that Valhalla was the venue where we watched the once-great Tiger Woods reduced to the ranks of mere mortal as he missed the cut at the PGA Championship by a country mile. Ironically, Woods drove the ball pretty well. And his putting stroke still looks to be in good shape. But everything else about his game reflected the fact that there is a 15-time major winner who now plays once a month.
A host of iron shots came up short of their target and his once-awesome short game was missing in action. Yes, there was the occasional wondrous shot. And yes, he attracted the largest galleries. But it was like watching the last sporting rites being administered to Woods’ career.
He will tee it up at the US Open in June and at The Open Championship in July, and I fully expect him to miss the cut at both majors. Woods is a hugely proud man. He insists that he still believes he can win again but he must know that he is fooling nobody. Sadly, his battered body simply is not up to the physical demands of tournament golf on the most difficult courses in the world.
When Woods won the PGA at Valhalla in 2000 he held three of golf’s major titles. Less than eight months later he won The Masters to become the first golfer to hold all four majors at the same time. He is now a shadow of that golfer.
But this tournament will be remembered for many reasons other than the demise of Woods.
