The 2010 calendar year was not a good one for Tiger Woods. It was the first PGA Tour campaign in which he failed to win a single tournament. While he stayed competitive in practically every tournament he competed, his bid for titles last year came up empty.
With a New Year, however, brings new chances and new opportunities. And Tiger Woods is resolved to get back on track with his links career and regain his rightful position as the world’s No. 1 golfer. As one of Upper Deck Authenticated’s exclusive signing partners, Tiger’s signature is one of the most sought-after in the collectibles marketplace. We have shared just how valuable his signature is here before. Ultimately his performances out on the course largely dictate how sought-after his signature really is.
There’s no disputing his universal appeal however. Since partnering with Tiger Woods, Upper Deck has featured him in MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, Golf and even collegiate licensed trading card releases. Tiger is included in these sets because we’ve found there is huge demand for his trading cards, and especially autograph trading cards, from every type of sports fan. He is an athlete that truly transcends his own sport. Recently he took some time out of his bust schedule to sign his 2009-10 NHL The Cup Autographed Retro Rookie Patch cards. With a swatch of tournament-worn memorabilia embedded on each card, these are sure to be a hit once they find their way to the hands of collectors.
This year – this weekend, in fact – Tiger is battling in his first tournament of the 2011 campaign: the Farmer’s Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. In yesterday’s opening round, he shot a three-under-par 69 with three birdies and no bogies and found himself five shots off the lead. Today, highlighted by a 27-foot put on No. 5 and four straight birdies, he made the turn with a 32. Now, having completed his second round of play, he remains in contention, but finds himself trailing tournament leader Bill Haas by five strokes.
Tiger’s march back to the No. 1 spot will not be easy. But Upper Deck Authenticated will be there to commemorate his next major tournament championship. His last major triumph occurred at the 2008 U.S. Open. You may recall he battled Rocco Mediate in an exciting playoff round on Monday that decided the title. The win marked his 14th major overall, placing him just four behind Jack Nicklaus’s all-time mark of 18 majors. It’s a hallowed mark that will not be broken without complete concentration, a little luck and a lot of perseverance on the part of Tiger.
As the 35-year-old readies himself for the fast-approaching Masters in April, Upper Deck wishes Tiger all the best this weekend as he competes in our backyard. To celebrate his return, we would like to offer up five FREE 2011 Upper Deck Authenticated calendar to fans visiting this site. Just leave a comment as to why you love to watch Tiger Woods play in the comment section below and we’ll randomly award these to five fans on Monday morning.
