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PHOENIX -- Mike Hazen seemingly had the perfect job, working in his hometown as the general manager of the Boston Red Sox.One aspect was missing: Final say in baseball decisions. That belonged to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.So even though Arizona is on the other side of the country and the franchise has been stuck in a rut, Hazen jumped at the chance to become vice president and general manager of the Diamondbacks.There are some great players here, and my job is to help bring this franchise to the next level, Hazen said during his introductory news conference Monday. Its an enormous responsibility and were here to make a commitment to the fans. First and foremost, were here to win a championship.The Diamondbacks were searching for someone with a blend of traditional baseball evaluation skills and analytics after firing GM Dave Stewart a day after the 2016 season end.The 40-year-old Hazen fits that bill.He was a two-time All-Ivy League player at Princeton. After graduating, he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1998 and played two seasons in the minors.Hazen then spent five seasons with the Cleveland Indians, working in scouting and player development, before moving to Boston. He worked 11 seasons with the Red Sox, winning World Series titles in 2007 and 2013 while making the postseason five times.Hazen was involved in every aspect of baseball operations in Boston and spent four seasons as assistant GM before being promoted to vice president and general manager before the 2016 season.Hes been a part of championships; hes been a leader; hell be a leader here and will, without a doubt, outwork us all, Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick said.Hazens first order of business will be to replace manager Chip Hale, who was fired the same day as Stewart.Hazen could turn to Phil Nevin, the manager of Arizonas Triple-A affiliate, who interviewed for the job before Hale was hired.Another potential candidate could be Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, who has a good relationship with Hazen.In my opinion, he is ready to be a major league manager, Dombrowski said from Boston. Whether he would be their top choice, I cant say. We would not stand in his way.After that, Hazen will begin reshaping an organization that has had only brief periods of success since winning the 2001 World Series.Arizona won the 2011 NL West title, but followed that with five straight non-winning seasons. The Diamondbacks went 79-83 in their first season under Stewart and Hale, but took a step back this season (69-93) despite adding pitchers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller.I want to help in any way possible in my role to make this a great franchise -- it is a great franchise -- to take it to another level, Hazen said. It will be my goal every day I come to work; itll be the goal of all those who work beside me, and Im excited to start doing that.With the addition of Hazen, the role of Tony La Russa will change with the Diamondbacks. He has served as chief baseball officer the past two seasons but will shift back into an advisory role.I have 50 years of teaching and developed credibility and trust, La Russa said. 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Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen.NASSAU, Bahamas -- Returning to golf was always going to be an easier decision for Tiger Woods than knowing when to leave.One week in the Bahamas is not going to determine that.Woods turns 41 at the end of next month, and for the first time since he started this holiday tournament, he is the oldest player in the field. Age is not the issue, though. It never is in golf. One of the greatest aspects of this sport is that it can be played a few years short of forever.At the elite level, however, thats also its greatest burden.Golf rarely offers a graceful exit.While it didnt cross his mind Monday when Woods played nine holes with Derek Jeter in a breezy atmosphere punctuated by the occasional needle, it was a reminder of how difficult it will be for Woods to leave at the right time, on his own terms.Jeter knew when it was time to go, and his departure was right out of a movie script. He hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth in his final game at Yankee Stadium, and then he hit another RBI single in the final at-bat of his career and received a standing ovation at Fenway Park.Ted Williams hit a home run in his final at-bat. Peyton Manning walked off the field for the last time as a Super Bowl champion. Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in his last game with the Los Angeles Lakers.What would be a comparable ending for Woods, or any golfer?I dont know, Woods said with emphasis on the final word. He paused for a brief moment before adding, You cant.Arnold Palmer had the tearful farewell from the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1994, the grand crossing of the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews a year later, an entire week devoted to his departure at the Masters in 2004. His final time playing Bay Hill, he hit driver off the deck to the front of the 18th green and made par.But the King quit keeping score well before that. At the 2001 Pennsylvania Classic at Laurel Valley, the standard bearer removed his score from the sign and Palmer did not turn in a card (he would have shot 90).Gary Player played the Masters for the 52nd time at age 74.You would think that win a major and youre done, Woods said of the ideal exit from golf. But if you win a major, youre going to want to come back and play.Jack Nicklaus never won again after the 1986 Masters he won at age 46. He never missed a major as a pro until the 1998 British Open. Nicklaus playedd the Masters for the last time in 2005 without telling anyone -- he finished on the front nine because of rain delays.ddddddddddddStill, he managed a memorable retirement that summer when he played a major for the last time at St. Andrews. While he missed the cut, Nicklaus birdied the final hole, raised his left arm in that pose made famous at the `86 Masters and said, I knew that hole would move wherever I hit it.Woods isnt ready to think about retirement or he would have left when he had the chance.If you love the game, you can keep coming back, Ernie Els said when assessing Woods return to golf. Otherwise, we can walk away. I have enough of everything. I can go do other stuff. But I still feel I can play decent golf, and I love it. If he has the desire -- and I think he does have the desire, otherwise I think he could have really walked away this time -- then you keep grinding and forget about how good you were. Its where you are now.Woods waited 15 months to heal. He has said his health is no longer an issue, and the final measure will be this week at the Hero World Challenge. His body has aged and his swing has changed. The golf landscape has become even more crowded with younger, disciplined players who grew up in awe of him. They work just as hard, hit the ball farther and make putts that Woods once did.Can he win again? Maybe not this week, but it would be foolish to count him out, majors included. All it takes is one week when everything goes right. That doesnt apply only to Woods; that has been proven with plenty of players over the years.Our sport, you see guys like Jim Furyk just shooting 58, hitting it as far as he does. You can play different ways and still win golf tournaments, Woods said. You cant do that in baseball, football, basketball, tennis. You have your window. And once you miss that window, youre done. Youre starting to see the end of Fed (Roger Federer), and its sad. We can see hes not quite the same. Same with Jetes (Jeter) after he broke his ankle.In golf, you can still have one or two great weeks a year and still win golf tournaments. And if you win two golf tournaments, youve basically had a great year.Its enough to keep him going. For how long, not even he knows. ' ' '