ZealousGolfer.com

Tiger Woods won Jack Nicklaus's classic event, the Memorial, for the first time in eight years. He needed a great round today, as he trailed the leaders by a commanding margin. A 7-under par 65 brought him back to the top of the game, though.

Needing a birdie on the 18th to win the event, Woods launched an enormous 7 iron shot from 183 yards out, and it eventually settled nearly a foot away from the hole. Game over.

Many were skeptical of Tiger's chances with the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black only two weeks away. Jack Nicklaus certainly isn't, as he boldly predicted that Tiger's 15th major championship will come in New York.

Tiger finished one stroke ahead of two-time U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk. Furyk made a clutch putt on the 18th to distance himself from the pack contending for the title, but his finish was not enough to hold back the likes of Woods.

I am certainly excited about the possibility of another Woods victory. After a string of less than Woods-like finishes, I was started to get worried. Inevitably, Woods will be the favorite going into the event. However, I am not ready to believe that the Woods who has dominated U.S. Open fields playing on one leg (2008) or defeated the second best player by 15th strokes (2000) has 100% returned.

The wire-to-wire victory that has characterized Tiger's dominance has certainly not found its way to the PGA Tour quite yet. His wins at Bay Hill and the Memorial required enormous comebacks.

Clearly Tiger's psychological strength and capacity to perform in high pressure situations hasn't lost a step in the wake of his injury. Nevertheless, the question still looms in my mind, at least: is this really the old Tiger?

Any way you slice it, Woods has a great shot at adding another trophy to his collection. The odds might not tell the whole tale, though.