Anyone looking for a morale booster might want to consider Tiger Woods's latest U.S. Open performance. Woods missed the cut, finishing 7-over, and seemed to regard the simple act of finding his ball in the rough as a small victory. If nothing else, it's proof that competitive spirit can coexist with a particularly brutal game of fetch.

Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion, hasn't exactly been a stranger to rough patches lately. He struggled mightily in the tournament, bogeying his way through the first round. Adding four bogeys to his scorecard on Thursday, he finished 4-over 74 (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024). Bright spots were few and far between, but Tiger did manage a birdie on his first hole—only to proceed with bogeying half of his final 12 holes (New York Post, June 14, 2024).

Friday brought more of the same. Woods added another birdie on his fourth hole; however, the bogeys weren't far behind. Four more bogeys sealed his fate, closing his tournament at 7-over (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024; New York Post, June 14, 2024). This extended his streak to 13 consecutive majors without a top-20 finish (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024).

Tiger Woods hasn't competed in the U.S. Open since 2020, a hiatus that did not aid his performance. Despite a special exemption that allowed him entry, it was evident that the exemption didn't apply to his scorecard (New York Post, June 14, 2024). It marked his first time missing consecutive major cuts since 2015, a feat no one is rushing to put on a commemorative plaque (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024).

Woods's history reveals he has always been a high-risk, high-reward player, but recently it's been all risk and no reward. Injuries and a vehicle crash in 2021 further complicated things. Since the crash, his performance has been conspicuously subpar (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024). He did make the cut at the Masters but went on to finish last among those who did—proving that sometimes participating really is the important part (New York Post, June 14, 2024).

Even the familiar turf of the U.S. Open couldn't save him this time. Tiger missed the cut for the first time since 2020, marking his fifth missed cut at the event (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024). The closest he's come to reliving former glory was tying for 21st place in 2012 and 2019 (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024). He's no stranger to challenges, but consistently missing the cut has added a new chapter to his illustrious career—a chapter golf fans wish would stop being a recurring plot twist.

Interestingly, Woods had finished in the top 20 in nine majors between the 2013 PGA Championship and the 2018 U.S. Open, but lately, it's been anything but top 20 (Fox Sports, June 14, 2024). Still, the legend presses on with a smile, a swing, and the occasional stumble into the rough. His optimism about the future is heartening, even if it sometimes feels like he's channeling the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try—try again.”

While Woods's latest outings have not seen him reclaim his former glory, there's a sense that the journey is far from over. After all, if finding your ball in the rough can count as a win, there’s always hope that the next swing will be the one to bring back the old Tiger.

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