As the month of March loomed on the horizon, the Professional Golfers Association was in desperate condition. Up to that point, the golfing world's most famous competitor, Tiger Woods, had been MIA for the entire year, and it's backup favorite, Phil Mickelson, had not been heard of much either for that matter.As a result, it seemed for the longest time that the PGA was destined to fade away. The only time that many sports fans had heard much of anything about it came about when Mickelson, who most of the time is affectionately refered to as "Lefty," found himself forced to speak out against another golfer after he was lightly accused of cheating.
Just when things looked their worst, however, golf began to shine with a glimmer of hope.
Sports medias around the world began buzzing with excitement when rumors began to spread about Tiger's return in early March, and speculation began as to how much longer the golf world would go without its perennial son.
Then the news came. Tiger announced to the world that he would be back in less than a month, and according to him, there would be no better time than to come back during golf's most prestigious event; The Masters.
Nothing is bigger in sports than the personal triumph of an athlete. Regardless of whether these triumphs are over tragedy or embarrassing personal circumstances, sports fans eat them up like hot dogs on a sunny spring day at the ballpark.
Love him or hate him, Tiger was coming back, and with the news of his return destination out in the open, all eyes became fixated on Augusta National, home of the Masters.
Tickets began selling out within days of the news, and fans around the world began to play out Tiger's perseverance in their minds. Nothing would be better for golf than to have Tiger return with a bang.
Or so the golfing public thought.
As the grand tournament began on April 8, everyone with half an interest in the sport had one thing on their mind; how was Tiger doing?
Although he started with bang, shooting four under for his best first round ever at the masters, Woods began to slip on Saturday, leaving many to sit back and say that what would be best for the game of golf just wasn't to be.
As Saturday turned to Sunday, things did not improve for Woods. Having become a dark and mysterious enigma to fans and fellow golfers alike, his play began to echo his new image, making unbelievable shots one minute while making painful mistakes the next. It was now certain that Woods would no be able to deliver what golf so desperately need.
Then it happened. Whispers began spreading. Heads and TVs began turn from the darkness of Wood's persona and focus on a not so strange ray of hope.
The ray of hope's name was Lefty, and he had just taken the lead.
Having been through a recent version of hell in which both his mother and wife had been diagnosed with cancer, not to mention that his game had suffered as well, many people had forgotten about Lefty. That is, until now.
As the sun set on Sunday, there was Lefty, shinning in the spotlight and putting on the green champions jacket.
Suddenly fans began to realize what should have been playing out in their heads all along. What the sport really needed was not Tiger Woods, but an inspirational story that would not only capture their attention, but their hearts as well.
With golfs biggest weekend now behind us, sports fans can now look back and see just how simple it is. After months of negative side stories, rumors and accusation concerning its main attraction, golf finally has a story and a face worth showing the world once again.
As the remainder of the year approaches, and with Woods now fully back with the tour, it seems as though golf is back, and with Lefty at the helm, at least for the next few weeks, it may be possible to say that golf is not only back, but shinning and gleaming with a healthy new image for all of those who wish to see it. And it's all thanks to the man that golf had forgotten that it had.
Hail Sir Lefty, golf's latest and most needed knight in shinning armour.
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