Tiger Woods is finished. That's not me talking, That's Drew Magary, who writes for several internet sites, including Deadspin and according to one admirer, "possesses a keen insight into pro sports' unyielding loads of,'' well, we paraphrase and use "garbage."

Which one might consider Magary's prediction about Woods.

That came a week ago, in New York Magazine, not to be confused with the New Yorker, where John Updike was featured and once upon a time offered the most literate golf writer in American history, Herbert Warren Wind.

But Herb's style, long, languorous sentences, isn't acceptable any more. It required patience and intelligence, two traits constantly being dumbed out of us.

Now we demand obeisance. Look, readers, Tiger Woods is finished, and as Magary, who as we understand is trying to get attention by getting our goat, Woods "will never win another major championship again."

At least he didn't say Tiger would never break 70 again.

Yes, I've dealt with Eldrick Woods since he was a junior at Stanford, which was 1995-96 if you're keeping score. Thought he was an upstanding young man. Knew he was a fantastic golfer.

One opinion has changed, admittedly, although in this most forgiving of societies it would not be hypocritical once again to at least give him respect, if not approval.

Tiger didn't steal anyone's bankroll. Tiger didn't punch somebody in the mouth. He simply broke a million hearts, most significantly that of his now ex-wife, Elin Nordegren.

Tiger's self-created agony, the women, the rehab, the contrition, the divorce took their toll, on his life - as well as Elin's life - and no less notably on his golf.

He wasn't standing on the practice tee with the idea of regaining his balance on footwork but of worrying about regaining his self-esteem. As well possibly of thinking about the lump of money the settlement would provide Elin, and the two kids.

Woods' golf since he returned to competition wavered between bewildering and awful, with a brief dollop of anticipation. A 66 the third round at Pebble. Back-to-back birdies in the fourth round at St. Andrews. The man still had it. Then, he didn't have it.

His swing, remade three times, came in more parts than a Eugene O'Neill play. The putting touch which saved him through the years, was in desperate need of a touch-up. Yet, he was and is only 34.

And while Arnie never won another major after age 34, Hogan didn't win his first major until he was 34. The assumption is Woods should be competitive for another four or five years, at the least, even with the ascension of the new generation, Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa and Louis Oosthuizen.

The mental toughness that was as much a part of the Woods' personality, learned by repetition from a driven father, is still there. Maybe under a layer of doubt or the patina of uncertainty, but it's there. As was verified in the first round of the Barclays.

It's Magary's contention that everything Tiger was primed for, everything Tiger dreamed for, can never be. That even if Woods wins five more majors to overtake Jack Nicklaus' record of 18, his reputation is shot. So no matter that is accomplished, so his Tiger's golfing legacy.

Ridiculous. Now, even more, he will be obsessed with majors, with any victory. If beating Nicklaus, and along the way, or in addition, Jack and Sam Snead for total victories on Tour (Snead has 82, Nicklaus 73, Tiger 71) isn't enough motivation - and it's plenty - there's an added push.

Woods hasn't said in as many words what so many athletes have told us, meaning the press, to wit, "You didn't think I could do it," or "You guys said I was all washed up." But you know that thought is deep in his head.

One round does not mean the old Tiger Woods, the one before the accident and the revelations of infidelity and losses of sponsors, has returned. However, one round does mean the new Tiger Woods, with another swing coach, is very much capable of playing like the old one.

Tiger Woods was first off the tee Thursday in the Barclays, which was unusual. Tiger Woods was first on the leaderboard Thursday, which was unusual after what had transpired in the last 10 months.

He had revamped his swing. He had revitalized his thinking. The combination for a reassuring day out of a tumultuous day proved that no matter what deep down Tiger Woods may be, it's anything but finished.