Since his arrest May 29 for DUI, a lot more fans are wondering if Tiger Woods may be completely finished as a PGA Tour player.

Yes, some folks think we never again will see Woods compete in a PGA Tour event. And most are certain he never again will win a major tournament.

At age 41, this may be a sad reality for a golfer who seemed to be on his way to winning more majors than any player in the history of professional golf.

“I truly do not think he is going to play again,” said Ron Bibeau, head pro at Dunegrass and former executive director of First Tee of Maine. “If he does play, he will be a shadow of himself.”

Mike Cloutier, director of golf and head pro at Point Sebago, is of the belief that Tiger has greater problems than returning to being a PGA Tour participant.

“If I was Tiger, I’d back away from golf and get my life together,” Cloutier said, pointing to Woods’ pain-killer addiction and the fact that he built up his body too quickly.

Add to that Tiger’s four back surgeries, and it is evident that this is not going to make his once-great swing any better. Is he capable of leading a non-golf life?

Brian Bickford, head pro at Val Halla, said: “I get nervous about his future. He has no support system. His father died, his wife left him and his caddie left him.”

Going back in time, Bickford said he made Tiger Woods a model for Maine junior players, but added that in 2017: “I cannot use him as the guy to look up to.”

Because of Woods’ success as a minority golfer, the world rooted for him to win. Tournament prize money became huge during Tiger’s glory days, and TV ratings were off the charts.

PGA Tour players, who enjoy the large earnings and acclaim today, owe a lot of that to the rise of Tiger Woods. He took pro golf from being a sport for country club members to an every-man’s game.

The fact that he might never again play in a tour event, and the almost certainty that Woods can no longer win a major, is difficult to believe.

As Bickford put it: “We have junior players who do not know who Tiger Woods is.”

Now that is tragic.

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With Father’s Day a week away, perhaps some tips for gifts will help.

Antiqua makes top-quality golf shirts, which are available in retail stores and online at www.antigua.com. There is a new product called “Swing Oil,” which is an energy drink/golfer’s supplement endorsed by Jason Day. Information on it is available at www.swingoil.com.

The best outlet store in Maine probably is The Golf & Ski Warehouse in Scarborough. If it does not have what you want, it can probably be ordered for you.

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Harry Haylock of Turner Highlands and his daughter, Ruby, won the 14 and under flight of the MSGA Parent/Child Championship June 4 at Natanis by shooting an 81 to win by a stroke.

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In an MSGA Senior Tournament held June 1 at Brunswick, Dale Brown of Fairlawn (78-68) finished second in the over-70 individual net. Vic Gaudreau of Poland Springs (80-65) was second in the 64-69 individual net, and the team of Richard McCann, Reggie Gammon, Ken Luce and Cy Thompson tied for fifth in team net.

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The MSGA has a pair of championship events scheduled this week. On June 13, the 11th Senior Four-Ball championship will be held at Riverside with 60 two-man teams, and June 16-17 the State Four-Ball is at Fox Ridge. Because of the Four-Ball competition, there will be no weekly event. On June 15, a Maine Amateur qualifer is on tap at Biddeford-Saco.

Bill Kennedy Copy the Story Link