Like many times before, Tiger Woods' consecutive cuts-made streak came down to the 18th hole last weekend. Like zero times before in the last seven years, he walked into the clubhouse with a suddenly free weekend.
Tiger needed to make par to stay even, but after finding a bunker, could only manage a bogey, and left the rest of the field to complete the final two rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship.
It was seven years ago, in 1998, at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am that Woods began his historic streak. In that span of time, he maintained a seemingly invincible perch at the top of the player rankings, won record prize money, marched his way through majors in red shirt, fist-pumping glory, and solidified his reputation as one of the game's greatest — ever.
One hundred and forty-two consecutive cuts made.
142.
Through bad streaks, inclement weather, tough competition, intense media and public scrutiny, and questions about his talent, Tiger Woods had enough moxie, sheer force of will, and concentration to be good even when he wasn't.
It's amazing to think that Tiger on an average stay is still probably better than half of the players in the field on their best.
In seven years, Tiger went from a promising golf talent taking the sport by storm to one of the world's most recognizable and popular athletes. It wasn't through bravado or showmanship. It didn't come through endless self-promotion or controversy.
What made Tiger the athlete and public figure that he is today was everything that happened from the first tee to the last green, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the last seven years.
It is the way that Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Cal Ripken, Jr., Joe DiMaggio, Wayne Gretzky, and Roger Clemens built their careers and reputations.
Tiger's 142 mark surpassed the previous record, held by ... that's right, Byron Nelson, who had 111 straight cuts-made in the 1940's. So, it is fitting that the end to this monumental testament to excellence came at the namesake tournament of the previous record holder.
There are those who will take their shots at Tiger, saying that since 31 of the tournaments that Tiger competed in didn't even have a cut they shouldn't be included. Others will say that since "making the cut" in Nelson's day meant finishing in the money, his streak demonstrated a longer, higher quality of play.
Sure, these are valid points of argument, but in no way should they take away from the accomplishment of Tiger.
In the last seven years, we went to war in Iraq, the landscape of sports and culture and nation were changed with 9/11, the Patriots have gone from perennial loser to dynasty, the Red Sox have ended "the curse," and Martha Stewart has gone from homemaker to cellmate.
I am 23-years-old now. Seven years ago, I was finishing my sophomore year of high school and slowly learning the driving skills that led to an eventual suspension of my license.
Needless to say, it's been a long time.
Perhaps this last weekend is a sign of things to come. Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Sergio Garcia have been steadily gaining on Tiger and routinely provide fierce competition.
But flashes of the Tiger of old came through in dazzling red, fist-pumping, Sunday glory at the Masters, and I have a hard time believing those days are remotely close to being over.
This year, we'll see one of golf's greatest, Jack Nicklaus, walk off the 18th green for the last time as a professional player at the British Open. Streaks end, careers end.
Tiger may have walked off the green for the weekend, but he's far from walking off forever.
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