After yet another comeback last month at the Hero World Challenge, Woods is trying to prove he’s not ready to leave the cherished game just yet.

He showed glimpses of what he can produce, and finished in a tie for ninth on -8.

The last nine years has been very stop start for the former world number one.

With every comeback, the American has got all the fans’ hopes up. After all he has been the prize drawer for the previous decade before that.

Yet what we have learned now more than ever is that golf doesn’t need Woods as much as he needs the game.

The sport has reached new heights over the past few years or so.

With the rise of the likes of Jodan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, golf is in a much healthier state now than it was when Woods rose to prominence at the Masters in August in 1997.

Back then, Woods blew everyone off the course with his powerful, long hitting and supreme putting.

He won by an enormous 12 strokes and that was the start of his vice-like grip on the game.

He was a breath of fresh air and he revolutionised the sport.

Fast forward 20 years, and Tiger is in decline.

Back problems aside, and yes, he has been plagued by niggles and spasms, he's not the player he once was.

But he doesn’t seem so assured about his game nowadays.

He has changed his swing, so it causes less impact on his back.

However, his short game isn’t as reliable as it once was and his putting is slightly off.

When asked about Woods’ chances of Major success next year, his former coach Butch Harmon said: “Can he win a major in 2018? Well, you know that's what Tiger [Woods] is thinking, and he probably still thinks he can win every tournament he plays in. 

“But he has to crawl before he can walk, and walk before he can run. 

“Right now, he's past the crawling stage and he's walking!

“Let's see how he handles a full-field PGA Tour event next year, how he handles the different courses, and if he continues along this way, who knows.

“The one thing I learned from my 10 years as Tiger's coach, and since then, is "never say never" when it comes to Tiger Woods.”

We’ve been waiting a long time for Tiger to explode into life again.

His journey has been excruciating at times, and he has a long way to go to get back to the pinnacle.

Nobody doubts his determination to add to his already bulging trophy cabinet.

But this isn’t the Tiger of old. While he still remains just four Majors short of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18, it seems like a mountain to climb.

Forget Nicklaus, Woods will be lucky if he gets his hands on another Major.

I’m afraid to say it is the beginning of the end for Tiger!