DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

It almost seemed ordained, those final holes of Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament with the newly-constructed Tiger Woods conjuring up some of the old Tiger Woods magic with that incredible flop shot on the 16th to win the tournament. It had the drama a lot of golf enthusiasts had been waiting for a long time.

The reconstruction of Tiger Wood's game and psyche has been a work in process for two and a half years. First, he had to reinvent himself and restore the shattered ego. He will never be a loveable personality, and he had to learn to live with the tarnished image and show he had character. Then he went through a total overhaul of the mechanics of his swing, a process of going one step forward and two back for a long time.

We saw glimpses of it sporadically earlier this year. He put it together briefly for Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tourney where he won for the first time in a regular tournament since 2009 (not including that limited field win in 2011 in his own tournament). Then he regressed and looked terrible in a few tournaments, including the Masters. He had begun to look better the last few matches, even as he struggled to make the cut at the Players Championship. This past weekend, it all came together.

His deportment on the course was new. He would hit a drive, immediately pick up his tee, knowing he had hit it right where he wanted, and walk down the fairway. His irons were right on, as you watched him hold the finish of his swing and see the ball go where directed. And, this week he could putt. A masterful all-around game.

I don't foresee Tiger Woods dominating as he once did. He's 36, not old, but facing a horde of young talent who are not afraid of him and have the confidence to win. As I said, he is not loveable, but you cannot help but admire the prodigious talent when it all comes together with his flair for the dramatic and unexpected.

Welcome back, Tiger. I know you'll keep us entertained for several more years. And I believe some majors are in your purview.