The best part about today was awakening to golf on the TV. No way was there going to be a repeat of last year's stupidity.
Way to go Lefty, I guess(he isn't one of my favorites), but give credit where it's due. He played the best golf out there today and earned it(if not for Boom Boom's bulky putter though). He's got two now. That should be enough to keep the press off his back even if he doesn't win another for a while.
Shame that Rocco and Clarke(definitely favorites of mine)couldn't stay in it any longer than they did. Rock's back has got to be killing him and Darren has had a difficult year with his wife battling cancer always in the back of his mind. Tiger's well, Tiger. He didn't go down without a fight but enough of those narrower fairways did deliver the knockout punches at the end.
If I may indulge for a moment to opine on why this is "the greatest game'. I absolutely stink at the game but enjoy it the most. I'm guessing like most my age found the game about the time Jack won his 6th Green jacket. That Sunday was the most unbelievable 3 hours of sport I have ever seen. Since then, I follow the sport closely, sometimes more than the "big" ones(MLB, NBA, NFL). I have been to 15 straight Sundays at the Firestone tournaments(first the World Series of Golf, then the NEC Invitational, and starting this year it becomes the Bridgestone Inv.). Nothing beats the interaction between fan and player. You can't get within 5 feet of Kobe without paying a grand for the ticket, but every year I'm no more than that far away from Lefty, or Ernie Els, or DC, or Tiger(even with all the sheeple following him). Every year we stay at #15, a par 3 for the entire day. It was great to be around early in the day when there is hardly anyone there and then here comes Ernie Els, one of the best in the world, and there are maybe 10-15 people there, including the marshals standing there between the 14 and 15th hole. Very cool.
Golf has its share of primadonnas, just like any other sport. To me Lefty comes across like that. Tiger does too, although I think he has mellowed, a lot. Vijay does to a point but not in a offensive way. DLIII definetly fits the mold as does Justin Lenord, which makes it EASY not to root for these guys. But then there are guys like Els, Mediate, Couples, Daly, Clarke, Appleby, Crenshaw, etc. These guys I easily root for. They appreciate the game and those who come to watch them. Every time a major comes along I think of where Payne Stewart would be on the leaderboard if he were still with us(I can't believe it's been almost 6 years since we lost him).
OK enough tear jearking---Jack Bauer would win every tournament he plays in. If you dare beat him, you lose a kneecap.
I wish I could attend an event like the Firestone on a regular basis. I think DLIII gets a bad rap as he looks like a spoiled rich kid. From what I've read though, he's a genuine down to earth person.
I generally root for the underdog, or the guy who never had won. Freddy, Rocco, T Clark and Chad Campbell were the ones I was hoping to see get a shot. Phil was just too sharp today.
Next time Phil wins, I want to see Tiger's wife run out to the green.
I'd like to add Tom Lehman to your list of "good guys". If you haven't read "Who's Your Caddy" by Rick Reilly - DEFINITELY put it on your list of books to read. One of the players that he "looped" for was Lehman. A total class act - and I for one am darned glad he is our Ryder Cup captain this year.
That day where it was announced that he had died still brings tears to my eyes. never realized it then but i do now, he was my favorite player........