Why Tiger Woods will fail to meet expectations at the British Open

Tiger Woods will make his 2014 major debut Thursday at the British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. He's a three-time Open champion, including back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. Eight years have passed since Woods' last Open title, and six years since his last major title, and the one constant is an ailment of some sort.

In 1994, two years before he turned pro, Woods had a benign tumor removed from his left knee. Over the years, he accumulated several injuries, including a tibia stress fracture, ruptured ACL, torn Achilles tendon, and leg strains. He had an injured muscle in his shoulder blade when he won the British Open at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

[Courtesy: ESPN]

Woods' latest surgery was not to his lower body, as per usual, but on his back. A pinched nerve forced him to withdraw from the Honda Classic in March. Soon after, Woods announced he underwent microdiscectomy surgery and missed both the Masters and the U.S. Open.

Related: 5 things you need to know about the 2014 British Open

Woods has competed in 17 of the last 19 British Opens, and finished in the top 10 nine times. The British Open is his favorite major, after all. 

Every player has their preference on tour, somewhere they play well. For Woods, it's playing in the most challenging conditions. Home for Tiger is hardly Cypress, Cal., his birthplace. No, he prefers the ever-changing weather of England and Scotland, over 5,200 miles away. 

Feeling comfortable is a big part of golfing well. That's the challenge for Woods this time around. It's not the greens, the weather, or the field that will weigh on him; it's the condition of his back only three and a half months removed from an intricate surgery.

Retief Goosen underwent a similar surgery two years ago, although his was more complex, as he had a disc replaced. Goosen knew the prognosis before Woods made it public. "I knew when Tiger’s back spasms came up that it was definitely structural," he said. "Your back doesn’t spasm unless it’s trying to protect something. There’s nothing you can do with bulging discs to take that away."

Goosen's words of caution for Woods: "It's a difficult road back."

Related: Your A-Z guide to the 2014 British Open

Woods' return to tour at the Quicken Loans National was lackluster, cut after a 7-over 149 through 36 holes. Did he come back too soon? Was he really that rusty? Was he ready to be in the spotlight? Questions without answers.

Golf's answer to whether it needs Tiger is a resounding yes. The sport needs Woods for the ratings alone. Martin Kaymer treated fans to one of the most impressive performances in U.S. Open history in June, but the ratings were pitiful.

There will be a feed dedicated to Woods at Royal Liverpool; his every stroke, step, and whisper to caddie documented. The most dominant golfer in history next to Jack Nicklaus is back in the field for a major, yet the expectations that come with that title - The Most Dominant Golfer in History - will be near impossible to reach.

Woods expects to win every time he steps foot on the course. But he isn't the only one who wants the British Open to be his feel-good, comeback story of the year.

Phil Mickelson plays well in Europe and, after a terrible season, he'll be looking to capitalize on that opportunity. He remains without a top-10 finish and has plummeted to No. 13 in the world rankings. Mickelson is last year's British Open champion. The stage isn't set for Woods alone.

Woods says he feels no pain and is more than ready to get going. He won't be pleased with anything but his fourth British Open title, a hefty task for a man working to get his game back under him.

The field hasn't slowed in Woods' absence. He won't pick up where he left off in 2006. He's changed his swing, dabbled with the most natural of movements to him. Injuries have added up, and they're the catalyst for change. They could be the reason why he's not Tiger anymore.