Back then he was the game’s bulldozer, barging inferior players out of the way in an all-out assault to overhaul Jack Nicklaus’ tally of 18 majors and cement his title as the best of all time.
Tiger Woods Design was supposed to form another facet of his burgeoning legacy; a series of lasting monuments to augment his immense standing within golf.
Except the best laid plans of men often go awry.
Woods hasn’t won a major since the scandal that engulfed his private life in 2008 and only now, nearly a decade on from the inception of his design arm, is one of his plots open for business.
With the verdict still out on whether he can recapture that magical form, and fatherhood having altered his outlook on life, the concept of legacy is very much back on the agenda.
“My goal is to design a limited number of distinct and memorable golf courses,” Woods told CNN in an exclusive interview.
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“I hope that one day the courses I design will become a lasting contribution to the game that has given me so much.”
Architects forever talk about “moving earth” when it comes to course layout, and the sands have undoubtedly shifted under Woods’ feet.
After locking down 14 majors in a nine-year spell, the former world No. 1 (and current No. 47) has just five top 10 finishes in them across the last five injury-hit seasons.
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But his emphasis on “playability” essentially says to the amateur — ‘I’ve got your back.’
“I have played enough pro-ams over the years to know not every golfer is a scratch handicap,” Woods said.
“Designing golf courses that players of all skill levels find enjoyable is very important to me. The biggest compliment that a designer can receive is if a golfer can’t wait to play his golf course again.”
Abbott is happy to talk legacy, but he’s also keen to stress that Woods still has plenty left in his playing locker.
Having watched him take on a collection of journalists during the opening of El Cardonal, Abbott says Woods’ swing has its “speed and power back.”
“I’m absolutely backing Tiger to bag some more majors,” he said, ominously. “It’s exciting to see him play this way.
“He’s determined. The appetite is still there — it’s like he’s never eaten before.”
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