How is Tiger Woods Not Comeback Player of the Year?

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 12, 2009 11:50 AM EST

Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard notes that there will not be a Comeback Player of the Year awarded for '09 on the PGA Tour. Why? Because there's supposedly no viable candidate.

How about Tiger Woods? The guy who came off of ACL surgery with a rapid rehab to win six times in 17 starts and nearly win his fifteenth major? No? Not a comeback?

I'm sensing a little bit of Tiger-envy.

"He doesn’t care (about CPOY)," Heath Slocum said. "He cares about the Vardon Trophy and the Player of the Year (award)."

"It’s not like he was hurting, at least competitively, when he went down," said Brad Faxon, a member of the Tour’s Policy Board. "He was the No. 1 player in the world at the time and didn’t drop out of that spot."

"I saw (one PAC member) write down on his ballot, ‘This is a meaningless category," Points said. "I understand that, sometimes names just don’t jump out at you, but I just didn’t feel like I should make that call not to give out the award."

Look, if Steve Stricker can win back-to-back Comeback Player of the Year awards, then the world number one can win Comeback Player of the Year. No comeback is two years. It's a ridiculous notion. But it's more ridiculous than bestowing some extra kudos to the world number one for coming back with a new ACL, new action, and still destroying the PGA Tour.

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Even if that one PAC writer is right – you have to know that Tiger would love to have a Comeback Player of the Year award in his trophy room. Even if it’s just for giggles.

You want an award that means less than Comeback Player of the Year ? PLAYER OF THE YEAR !! It means absolutely nothing when there is no serious competition for the top spot. There was only one reason to give it to Harrington last year – TIger only played half a year. Harrington won twice – they just happened to be labelled “majors”. Tiger won 4 times including a major, plus two seconds. It’s a dumb award.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 12, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions

Serious, Tiger is player of the year every year until further notice. The vote is on Rookie of the Year, since so few win.

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by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 12, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions

No Viable Candidate?

If anyone else on the Tour had undergone the reconstructive surgery and the rehab Tiger Woods underwent and then, upon return to regular play, continued his winning ways, it would be declared an absolute amazing accomplishment, a true comeback from what could have been a career ender, deserving recognition.

How much fun did the writers and commentators have when Woods washed out in Arizona, in first event back, questioning his rehab and swing and future as a top performer.

He “came back” strong the more his stamina improved, after he could “practice” immediately after playing competitively.

If you’re basing “comeback” on the rankings, sure he didn’t lose his number 1 spot. But how many writers complain about that system and how much it needs updating.

Tiger doesn’t care about an award like “Come Back”? Gee, I bet “coming back” was what kept him working through the pain during rehab.

by TheGolfClub on Nov 12, 2009 12:43 PM EST reply actions