10 years ago, Britney had her meltdown heard ‘round the world.

10 years ago, Barry O was spreading his message of HOPE as he successfully campaigned to become our nation’s first black president.

10 years ago, you were merging calls and T9 texting on one of these bad boys.

And 10 years ago was the last time that Tiger Woods hoisted up a 1st place trophy in major tournament.

Strange the passage of time. One minute you’re taking in the sights and smells of another wonderful Scholastic Book Fair and the next minute the president is hosting a reality star known for her nude cinematic displays to talk about prison reform.

Let’s not forget how much can change in 10 years.

With that said, I want to bring it all the way back to June 16, 2008 when the world’s greatest golfer won the world’s most challenging golf tournament on one leg.

Under the late afternoon sun on June 15, 2008, Eldrick Tont Woods stood over one of the biggest putts of his career.

It was the culmination of a hard-fought week. Unbeknownst to everyone watching, Tiger was in bad shape.

His leg and knee were so decimated by injury, that he hadn’t even managed to play a full practice round in the days leading up to the tournament. In his book detailing his career as Tiger’s coach, Hank Haney said that Tiger was receiving constant cortisone injections and as much as two hours of physical therapy after every practice round just to try and make it to the first tee shot of the tournament.

It was all uphill.

After 4 grueling days fighting through US Open rough and battling his bum knee, all that was left was the putt on 18. And Tiger did what he always did leading up to that moment of his career:

He fucking banged it home.

And no one watching in-person or on TV would have told you that they expected anything else. After all, he is Tiger. But then came the real challenge. Because the US Open isn’t like any other golf tournament in the world. Instead of the usual sudden-death playoff hole to decide the winner, the US Open plays AN ENTIRE ROUND OF 18 HOLES.

That means after barely even being healthy enough to play the tournament to begin with, Tiger now had to play a full extra round. And on a torn ACL with two stress fractures no doubt.

ALL uphill.

We all know how that went. Rocco Mediate did his best to play giant-slayer, but in the end the giant was actually a 33-year-old Tiger who ripped limb from limb anyone who dared enter his jungle. And this day was no different.

An angry Tiger in his natural habitat.

But that was 10 years ago. And that same Tiger no longer roams the course looking for people to devour. Nowadays, he more resembles a Tiger rescued from the circus than one who’s bloodthirsty for flesh. Grateful to be free again and surrounded by those who love him.

When you watch him play, you can tell he’s just happy to be playing again. He’s talked about spending more time with his kids. The vintage silent treatment for his opponents has been replaced with light-hearted conversations and a feeling of comradery. Finally the spotlight of his cheating scandal has subsided.

That’s not to say there’s not still some 2K Tiger in the tank. At the Memorial tournament last week, he showed us a flash of brilliance that reminded everyone of the Tiger we grew up with.

If Tiger wants to win at Shinnecock Hills in New York this weekend, he’ll have to be better off the tee. He’ll have to be better on the greens. He’ll have to be better with his irons. And he’ll have to do it all for four consecutive days. It’s an uphill battle, sure, but this is Tiger.

And if there’s something we learned 10 years ago that still rings true today it’s this:

HOPE.

Looking back, it’s hard to imagine Barack Obama as an underdog in anything he’s ever done. The same rings true for Tiger Woods. But this week, he’ll undoubtedly be just that. Fighting for every birdie. Clawing for every par. Trying to get up that hill.

But there’s hope. Hope that this US Open will continue to be a stepping stone in the long road back for Tiger Woods. Hope that 2008 is more like the present than we think.

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Can Tiger Return to Glory After 10 Years? was originally published in Grits & Gospel on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

No, really. Big Cat is backer than back. He’s coming off some strong finishes in his last two tournaments that both had some seriously respectable fields. And I know we’ve heard this shit a thousand times…

Tiger is back!… and then he’s not…. and then he’s hurt and he’s not back… but then he might be coming back and who really cares he’s old and washed up?!

… but this time it’s for real.

El Tigre hasn’t won a major since his victory at Torrey Pines in 2008. And the price of greatness when you get to Tiger’s level is that only Major W’s count. But in 2009, ’10, ’11, and ’13 he never finished outside of the top 10 at the Masters in Augusta (and that was with a back that needed to be fused back together). Supposedly his back is fixed now, so trust me you’ll want to be tuned in.

But this isn’t only about Tiger Woods. It’s just that nothing else about the Masters will make a non-golf fan give a shit.

I’m talking about those people out there that haven’t turned on a tournament since Tiger fell off the deep end a few years back; you know who you are.

The Masters at Augusta is the greatest golf tournament in the world, and it’s worthy of your eyeballs. And now that Tiger is back, there’s no excuse not to watch.

As much as players will be trying to beat Tiger this week, their biggest adversary is the course itself. It’s ruthless, unforgiving, and absolutely immaculate all at once.

For starters, there’s holes 11, 12, and 13 known as “Amen Corner”. Why the name? Because if you find yourself on the 14th tee without an utterly decimated scorecard, you say a little prayer to the big man upstairs. It’s that real!

Here’s what happened in 2015, when the world’s best player, Jordan Spieth, stepped up to the tee on 12 with a 5 stroke lead.

That’s the kind of shit that happens at the Masters. The best players in the world start playing like my dad.

In 2011, Rory McIlroy had a 4-shot lead going into Sunday, which is pretty damn good. What happened next? He proceeded to shoot the worst score ever recorded by a player that was leading going into Sunday. This dude shot an 80.

A FREAKING 80. The unraveling started on hole 10 with a triple bogey.

And we’re talking about a guy who won a major later that year. It’s freaky stuff.

There’s also all the weird shit that the Masters chalks up as “tradition”. It’s an all-around weird place:

• They’re the only tourney that calls attendees “patrons” instead of “spectators” and everyone’s dressed like they’re going to a yacht party in the Hamptons.
• Their signature food is the pimento cheese sandwich, but thanks to a TV deal they still sell $3 Bud Lights.
• To top it all off, the winner receives a ceremonial (very very) green jacket that’s literally put on him by another man. Oh, and they don’t allow phones or cameras.

Augusta National may be the most exclusive place on Earth. It’d probably be easier to sneak into the Oval Office than to get into The Masters.

This is the same Augusta, GA populated by half a million people and couldn’t keep a Whole Foods afloat. I literally couldn’t tell you one thing about that city that doesn’t involve golf, and that’s okay because for four days a year, Augusta, GA becomes the most magical place on planet earth.

And this year, it’s all about Tiger Woods. Hundreds and thousands of people will be following him specifically, and even more watching at home (including you).

It’s no secret why Tiger Woods on a golf course fascinates us just as much as the tigers in the wild on TV do. There’s always a chance that you might see them rip some poor fucking gazelle’s head clean off; and deep down, for some primitive reason, we like that.

And there’s a chance it happens this year…in Augusta… on CBS.

So I cannot advise you enough to find yourself a television this Sunday at around 2 pm. Just look for the red shirt and he’ll do the rest.

Because Tiger Woods is fucking back. And there will be plenty of gazelles.

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Tiger is F***ing Back! was originally published in Grits & Gospel on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.