When it comes to sports, the stories of underdogs completing upsets, tales of redemption and the constant hero versus villain narratives are what drive the viewership of sports, because at the end of the day they are entertainment.
However, the sport of golf is not the same as the rest of the sports world, because typically the stars in the game gain their fame from being heroes, heroes who make brilliant shots from anywhere and win crowds by their politeness and respectful manner.
That is until Eldrick “Tiger” Woods burst onto the scene in 1996 when the rookie won the Professional Golf Association Rookie of the Year. At first, the young energetic golfer was a positive addition to a nearly 500-year-old game. He was some of the new blood who would help grow the game; in fact, I adored Woods as a kid.
It is no doubt Woods helped grow the sport among the youth, as with him in the tour, there was an increase in the number of men’s golf at the Division I level in the NCAA according to Ryan Herrington with Golf Digest.
For example, in 1995-96 there were 281 programs, and in 2014-15 there were 297. For women’s golf Division I programs, there were only 159 in 1995-96, but in 2014-15 this number increased to 259. It should be noted 2006 was the peak of this growth, and what was Woods doing in 2006?
According to T.J. Auclair for PGA, Tiger Woods won the PGA Championship in his 12th major win with a dominant five-stroke win. This victory propelled him to six majors shy of Jack Nicklaus, he currently sits at 14 total majors and four shy of Nicklaus.
However, Woods’ fall from the pinnacle of the sport and his turning into a villain began with the death of his father in 2006. Top it off with a certain incident in 2009 when he admitted to infidelity after crashing his vehicle in the wee hours in the morning on Black Friday, according to ESPN. In Feb. 2010, he apologized for the affair, according to CNN.
Woods took another tumble from grace after several years of injuries to his knee and when he was found unconscious in his vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He went on to do a program to drop his DUI charge. According to Erik Ortiz with NBC News, Woods was attempting to treat his back pain from an injury he had suffered in 2015.
However, it is now two weeks away from the first major of 2018 with The Masters Tournament at Augusta National being played April 5-8. This is even more important this year because a certain someone is trying to make a comeback as a person and as a golfer.
Woods placed in the top 15 in three straight tournaments, and he has a chance to close the gap on Nicklaus’ record for majors to three. This is his shot at redemption, all the years of agony, the case of infidelity and sorrow could come to an end for him with a win in Augusta. 
If people believe in second chances, then this is for sure Woods’ second chance, a chance for him to get back on track, a chance to bounce back from injury and to take the sport to a different level.
Woods is a villain no doubt, and it would be hard for him to change this role. However, it does set up a chance for a hero-versus-villain story, and possibly a redemption story when he takes on the likes of Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose in two weeks.
This is why, when the coveted green jacket is played for in two weeks, I hope to see Woods competing in his Sunday red for his 15th major. Just think of the story you can tell your kids: “I saw Tiger Woods turn his life in the right direction and make a comeback to legendary status on the greatest stage.”