Tiger Woods continues to impact golfers in Saskatchewan

Even on the snow-covered prairies at the end of February, Griffin Blanch is working to become a better golfer.

The 13-year-old was drawn to the sport by Tiger Woods, and Blanch even tries to mimic parts of Woods’ game every time he picks up a club.

Knowing that Woods faces one of the toughest comebacks of his injury-filled career has Blanch worried.

“You get nervous. Is he going to be able to play again? He’s such a fun player to watch, and seeing him with his son — it’s tough. You don’t even know if he’ll be able to walk,” Blanch said Wednesday, one day after Woods was seriously injured in a car crash in California.

In December, Woods took to the course with his 12-year-old son Charlie, showing a rarely seen family side from the 82-time winner on the PGA circuit.

Jonathan Equina, the operations manager at the Ramada Golf Dome, said it’s those kinds of reasons that have not only made Woods one of the most famous athletes of all time, but also one of the most famous celebrities of his era.

“He’s been the face of golf the last two decades,” Equina said. “The barriers that he’s broken with golf have definitely created a different type of fan base to the PGA and golf in general.

“He does mean a lot to the game of golf simply because of what he’s done, how he’s done it and what he continues to keep doing.”

Woods finished one of the greatest comebacks in sports history when he won the 2019 Masters after years of back injuries, surgeries and personal turmoil.

The car accident on Tuesday raises doubts about another comeback. A statement from Woods’ Twitter account confirmed he shattered the tibia and fibula bones in multiple locations on his right leg.

He suffered “open fractures,” meaning the skin was broken. A rod, pins and screws were needed to repair his leg, ankle and foot over a “long surgical procedure.”

After seeing what he has endured over the past 13 years of injuries, many are wondering if they will ever get to see Tiger on a golf course again.

“Will he ever play competitively again? Obviously, those leg injuries will impact the back, so he might be done,” Gary Parker said during a break in his practice at the golf dome.

“He has come back so many times and winning the Masters in 2019 showed he’s capable of anything. The ultimate. The peak,” he added.

Equina is confident if there’s one person able to overcome another twist of fate, it’s Tiger Woods.

“I believe so. Just what he’s come back from already. Those athletes are your five-star, one-in-a-million type of athletes. Miracles happen and Tiger Woods is one guy that’s proved it,” Equina said.

Woods is currently tied with Sam Snead for most PGA wins. Woods trails only Jack Nicklaus in major tournament wins with 15.

As Blanch continued to work with an instructor on his swing, the young golfer is hoping his greatest source of inspiration doesn’t just recovery quickly; he’s hoping Woods proves to the world he can overcome anything.

“It feels good to watch and see him,” Blanch said. “The sport’s going to miss him if he’s gone now.”