What I'll Remember about 2011: Tiger's tough year

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Tiger Woods grimaces after a missed putt at The Presidents Cup.

PGATOUR.COM asked its staffers and freelancers what they will remember about the 2011 season. For the archived list of essays, click here.

Great athletes are not immune to hiccups, even during the best parts of their careers.

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Having risen to become baseball's most famous player, 30-year-old Babe Ruth suffered a mysterious ailment in 1925 and suffered his worst season in a New York Yankees uniform.

In 1976, having already shown his domination on clay courts by winning the previous two French Opens, tennis great Bjorn Borg inexplicably lost in the quarterfinals.

In 1993, having led the Chicago Bulls to three consecutive NBA titles, Michael Jordan opted to retire and then try his hand at baseball.

In 2011, Tiger Woods' hiccup on the PGA TOUR entered its second year. A combination of injuries and swing changes left him winless and, often times, not even in contention. Instead of talking about margin of victory, he discussed the process of rebuilding his game, hoping that his frustration would eventually be replaced by the warm feeling of success.

It was not easy on Tiger, nor easy for his fans. Having spoiled us for so long with his sustained domination on TOUR, Tiger's continued hiccups in 2011 left us scratching our heads and searching for the positives. Instead of celebrating his success, we were forced to find perspective.

As Tiger said late in the year: "It has been a tough time."

Part of being a great athlete is, of course, having the ability to bounce back. Two years after his poor season, Ruth hit a record 60 home runs. Borg ultimately won the next four French Opens he played in. Jordan returned to basketball and led the Bulls to another three-peat.

Tiger Woods did not have a memorable season in 2011, but it will be worth remembering, especially if and when he bounces back and begins winning PGA TOUR events again. This year will remind us that nothing is guaranteed, particularly in sports -- but should Tiger return to form, it will also remind us that the combination of perseverance and talent can never keep the great ones down too long.