Posted on 04/11/2011 6:20:31 PM PDT by ejdrapes
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The aura of Tiger Woods, which was the picture of health and the envy of millions for the better part of 15 years, died peacefully over the weekend at the home of the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club. The cause of death was ordinary fallibility. The aura is survived by Woods himself; his caddie, the New Zealand race-car driver Steve Williams; his agent, IMG deal-maker Mark Steinberg; and his headcover, Frank, whose career died shortly after appearing in a series of irreverent television commercials circa 2004, and who has since retired to the remainders bin at a Kohl's in Orlando. Woods's putting stroke, which produced ugly misses from four feet at the 12th and 15th holes Sunday, and which hasn't been right for years, performed last rites on the aura. It took its last wheezing breath when Woods, having tied for the lead with a front-nine 31, shot even par on the back and had his doors blown off by Adam Scott, 30, Jason Day, 23, and finally Charl Schwartzel, 26. The hard-to-define power source succumbed despite the best efforts of swing doctor Sean Foley, who watched Woods hit a succession of incredible shots Sunday only to tie for fourth, again. In lieu of flowers well-wishers may donate to the Tiger Woods Foundation and/or help pay Stevie's race-entry fees. Friends, relatives and incalculable beneficiaries of the aura recalled Sunday how it had made its way from early notoriety in Southern California — it appeared on the Mike Douglas Show almost at birth, with the comedian Bob Hope — to its three U.S. Junior championships, three U.S. Amateur championships and 14 major professional titles. It was worshipped and emulated from Northern Ireland to Venezuela and points yet unknown, leaving its imprint on pro tours in America, Europe and beyond. It changed the economy of golf, and redefined sports-marketing. It made entire careers, and covered the private-school tuition for the children of anonymous PGA Tour golfers. The aura proved as resilient at the end as it was at the start, bouncing back quickly after taking its first hit when Woods lost to Ed Fiori at the Quad Cities in 1996. Later defeats at the hands of Thomas Bjorn, Mike Weir and Costantino Rocca also were forgotten, and few Americans faulted the aura's surprising failure to appear at six Ryder Cups. Insiders speculate that the aura had been locked in a years-long standoff with Woods's left knee, which has been operated on four times and appeared to give Woods pain as he hit his approach shot to the 18th hole Sunday. Woods used cortisone to broker a truce at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where the aura reached its absolute apex. At least some of the damage was self-inflicted. Having been leveraged to facilitate a breathtaking run of mating games, the aura led to private tumult and public shame for Woods, who temporarily stopped feeding it on a brief apology tour. Already wobbly after Y.E. Yang upended Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship, the aura suffered, and took a bad fall as Graeme McDowell beat Woods in extra holes at the Chevron Challenge in December. It had been pushed around in a wheelchair for much of 2011. Several experts believed the aura could be saved as recently as last week, when it strutted into Augusta as if it were unchanged from the aura that helped Woods win the green jacket in 1997, 2001, '02 and '05. Woods shot a second-round 66, and a final-round 67, but Schwartzel and the others didn't care. The aura was gone, its last act giving CBS the second highest final-round ratings in 10 years. Services will be held at an undisclosed time at Woods's South Florida estate. A second service for the rest of the PGA Tour is expected be observed when commissioner Tim Finchem finalizes the next network TV deal. In other news, the Augusta Chronicle headline last week, "It's Lefty's to Lose," has prompted a formal inquiry from the Irish Golf Union over who owns the rights and privileges of losing the world's most prestigious tournament. An obit for Tiger's aura: 1996-2011
He lost by 2 strokes - he is far from dead
Silly. He came back from seven down on the last day and damn near won. He is not where he once was, and the talent is getting stronger around him. Thing is, he never made big comebacks in majors. He usually won from a lead after Saturday.
From what I understand he’s been working on his long stroke, and will now begin improving his putting. This obit is premature.
Anybody see him on TV at Augusta. I dumped Obama TV but watched a little of the Masters on the net feed.
His torso and arms are MUCH smaller. The PGA started testing for roids a week after he went for his knee operation in 2009. I think he is roid free now.
He is a creep but he played fairly well.
The South African, Chral Schwartzel, who won, birdied the last 4 holes on Sunday. Talk about guts and skill. The guy is like 5’11” and 140 pounds. He hits it about 285 yards off the tee which is average to slightly below average.
He is 26 years old. The youth brigade has arrived. Tiger’s problem is the young players are incredibly good. Late on Sunday - his age will catch up and if he used roids and is off them, his stamina will not be the same.
...and another tie for 4th place. Yep, time to retire..........LOL!
Try 4 strokes Tiger fan boy.
Hey do you work for Nike? Will you replace my sh**y Nike golf shoes that became unglued? Many their clubs are junk too like roid boy. I guess the slave labor “ain’t” cheap enough for Nike so they use cheap glue too.
Steroids do that. Ask Barry Bonds and many others.
In his very short interview yesterday after his finish he was the same arrogant Woods, it was all about him. He’ll never change and I was a fan of his for a time when the enemedia was covering for his bad behavior. He may get his golfing game back but he’ll never get character which he never had in the first place.
You watched TV!? Hypocrite. All I’ve ever seen you post is screeds about TV being the root of all evil. Fell off the wagon, eh?
Readers react to Masters coverage. Critically.
It was an amazing weekend, one we will talk of as long as they wear green jackets at Augusta National, but it was not perfect, and the first comments we've got, surprisingly, find fault with the coverage--and in some cases the ones being covered.
Did Phil say the wrong thing to the wrong guy? During the 4+ hours of CBS Saturday coverage, unless I missed it...and that would have been easy to do...there was not one shot of Phil Mickelson...not one. Plenty of Tiger, of course (when are the networks going to realize he’s now “one of the guys” and not “the guy”?) and legitimate coverage of the other contenders. But you’d think last year’s winner would deserve to have at least one shot shown, even if it wasn’t great, just so viewers would have an idea of how he was doing. Jack Harms, Muskegon, WI
You wonder why people hate the media coverage of Tiger. They blamed Tiger's missed putt on 12 on his playing partner. Laird took too long. Made God wait. Can't be Tiger's fault!! Waaah. You always make excuses for him; the only player you ever make excuses for! Dave Riffey Sr., Shell Lake, WI
So, Tiger refuses a media interview after a 5-under round with a disappointing back nine on Masters Sunday, while Rory McIlroy grants one after his humbling 8-over 80. Says a great deal about both golfers — well done, Rory! Don Lowdon, Ottawa, Canada
Actually, Tiger gave an interview, a brief one, that left many feeling he'd missed another opportunity to present the "new" Woods. He was curt, and in contrast to McIlroy's patient recounting of a disastrous day, left us feeling short-changed. It's his choice, of course, but Geoff Shackelford, and many others, found it as "testy" as you did.
Bob Carney
Barroid Woods lost an easy 20 roid pounds. With a slower swing, he no longer has the roid distance edge. Maybe now we’ll get to witness the great ambassador for the sport treat ignore and treat the other players like caddies; or watch him throw clubs, swear, and refuse to sign autographs for little kids. Doesn’t have a single friend in golf.
Barroid Woods lost an easy 20 roid pounds. With a slower swing, he no longer has the roid distance edge. Maybe now we’ll get to witness the great ambassador for the sport treat ignore and treat the other players like caddies; or watch him throw clubs, swear, and refuse to sign autographs for little kids. Doesn’t have a single friend in golf.
Tiger Woods: Woods Facing More Controversy After Spitting at the Masters
Thanks for posting that, I was wondering if I was the only one who saw it. lol
You make a good point about TW coverage. It really frosts me that since his meltdown with his wife all media, not just TV coverage devote more time to him than the leaders and winners of the tournaments. I guess ratings are much more important than athletes that are outperforming TW in most all areas of their lives.
He must be treated as a god.
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