Pulliam: Tiger Woods’ time is gone

Tiger Woods has had his last roar. He may have heard his last roar from a gallery on a Sunday.

On Monday, the 38-year-old golf star ended his professional relationship with swing coach Sean Foley after four years.

It’s the end of an era.

Growing up, I associated golf with one word: Tiger.

Mention Tiger and the vivid memories of him pumping his fist in his red Nike Polo on a beautiful Sunday afternoon flow through my mind.

Tiger has won 14 majors in his career, but not one since the U.S. Open in 2008.

Since then, Woods’ personal life has been a disaster and injuries have hampered his ability on the course.

He seems to be making Foley a scapegoat for not having won a major.

If anyone should blame himself, it’s Tiger Woods.

Once on top of the world of sports, his world came crashing down after the fire hydrant incident.

On the course, I believe he has not recovered mentally from that ordeal.

Woods has no timetable to hire a new swing coach and I don’t blame him.

Maybe he realizes his time to win majors is over — like his marriage — and it’s time to pass the torch.

Rory McIlroy is the new favorite to pass Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors.

Although Woods is the closest at 14, McIlroy now has four including this year’s British Open and PGA Championship.

McIlroy, just 25, has time on his side. He has also played fantastic golf this season.

Heck, his dad placed a bet years ago that McIlroy would win the British Open by the time his son was 25.

I haven’t decided if that was extreme stupidity or confidence.

McIlroy even got rid of his longtime girlfriend, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. The couple was together for three years and McIlroy only won one major in that time. He has won both majors since the breakup.

Coincidence? I think not.

The Golden Bear himself has been impressed by McIlroy’s play recently.

“Rory is an unbelievable talent,” Nicklaus said in an interview. “I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing. I love his swing, I love his rhythm, I love his moxie. He’s got a little swagger there, it’s a little bit cocky but not offensive.”

Sounds like something Nicklaus would have said about Woods 10 years ago.

There is a still a chance for Woods to make a run.

But if the last few years are any indication of the future, it looks like Tiger’s run of majors is over.

Once on pace to break Nicklaus’s storied record, his time has run out.

There’s no evidence in his play that he will win five majors any time soon.

Or one for that matter.

Getting a new swing coach won’t help Tiger — it’s all in his head.

How long has Woods been playing golf?

Since he was 2. Tiger Woods knows how to swing a golf club.

It’s all excuses at this point.

It’s time to move over, Tiger.

Rory McIlroy is here to stay.

Write Vindicator sportswriter Curtis Pulliam at cpulliam@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Pulliam_Vindy.