Posted on 04/10/2011 6:01:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- There first needs to be a simple, declarative statement to settle something once and for all, an answer to a question that's been asked for days, if not months. The statement is this: Tiger Woods is back.
He is. It's official. He didn't win the Masters, but after a courageous, almost history-making performance, it's impossible not to declare the career of Woods reinvigorated from the waitress-chasing dead.
Everything was present. The charge was there. He made up seven shots in eight holes, including an eagle on eight that led to the loudest roar of the weekend. Check. Some early leaders began to fall apart once Woods closed in. Check. Rory McIlroy had a bit of premature coronation, Jean Van De Velde-ing into people's lawns. Check, check, check.
McIlroy's falter was Woods’ gain. Woods caused McIlroy to panic. No question about it.
The caddy for Woods' playing partner shook Woods' hand at the conclusion of Woods' stunning round of 67 and said to Woods: "You're back."
You're back. Yes, he is. He is.
With all due respect to winner Charl Schwartzel, it was Woods who was the biggest story of the Masters despite finishing tied for fourth and four shots back with a 278.
You had to see it in person to understand. On the course, the gallery was throaty and chaotic. People could barely contain themselves as Woods made his run. Woods was fist-pumping again. His attitude was nasty again. Some of the staff at Augusta -- those who cook the food and empty the trash -- were mesmerized, sneaking a peak at the large television screen in the press room to watch Woods.
It's possible there hasn't been such emotion for a player who didn't win in the history of the Masters.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbssports.com ...
I said I give credit. I did not say anyone else should give him credit or anything else. Simply my opinion.
Having lived an imperfect life I find it hard to demand perfection from others.
That is simply me. I do draw the line at giving murderers parole tho.
Not all foreign players have made homes in Florida, or elsewhere in the US. Some, like Westwood and McIlvoy are in contention with the PGA and have opted out of playing at the Players Championship in May. Westwood dropped his PGA membership and is dissed about the PGA rule limiting him to only 10 events.
It’s nice to know that they blend in and serve the community they live in. But my issue is with the American field. When Tiger lost his crown, I’d liked to have seen someone from the ranks of our American players contend for the #1 slot. No one, not even Mickelson was able to contend with the Europeans. That’s my issue. After all, this IS the PGA.
Although time will tell, I think that may be overstating things. Outside of South Korea--and then only on the ladies' tour--the same countries that have historically produced great golfers are still the countries that are producing great golfers: the United States and Great Britain and its former colonies. There are a few oddities here and there, but by and large, the players that win majors are from those countries.
It may be like tennis, in the 70s probably at least 7 or 8 of the best players in the World were Americans, now, you’re lucky if it’s one or two. The same could wind up happening to golf, as well.
Yes, it could happen in golf. But I’d hope not. Golf is immensely more popular than tennis. It has a much broader base to draw from (as well as develop). What I fear is a disinterest developing in that base when shown repeatedly we just can’t contend. We need contenders, and not just a fortunate few. If anything, that’s what the PGA’s legacy should be. As I noted, after all this IS the PGA.
Or Dustin Johnson's 82 on Sunday in last year's US Open. You do feel bad, but people choke on Sundays. That's the way it goes.
Are you kidding? He's 35 years old. An apt comparison to Tiger, in my mind, is Tom Watson. For a period of about seven or eight years, Watson was the greatest golfer on the planet. There was nothing he couldn't do. Then he turned 35 and never won another major.
Woods may yet break the records, but it seems very unlikely. There are more good players on Tour than there were 10 years ago, and Woods is getting older. That's not a recipe for success.
Golf is more popular than tennis in the USA for sure, but worldwide I doubt it.
In the world golf rankings, four out of the top 10 are from the United States, and 7 of the top 15. NB: of the top 10, 9 are from the UK or the United States, as it’s largely always been.
That may be, but the growing strength in European players shows golf is gaining in popularity there as well. And I'm concerned with golf in America, and how we regain an edge in world standings. Great golf, regardless of where it comes from, is good for the game, but I'll root for the home team every time. And I want to see that home team as strong and contentious as it can be. Nothing wrong with that.
I just Googled it and Tennis is #3 or #4 in terms of world popularity, behind soccer, cricket and rugby. In fact basketball is probably more popular worldwide than golf is.
I am a fan of golf and believe that golf would be eminently better off if Tiger would just run in circles around a tree until he turned to butter.
I think yesterday’s run proves nothing other than he had one good day. Whatever....
We should have a stronger representation than that. Those figures would make sense if there was a world golf tour managed globally; not separate PGA and European tours (not to mention Asia tours or others). After all, those rankings stem from the predominant tour (PGA) being played on American courses, many that have a long history of tour events. We should be more competitive than we are.
Exactly!
You would think the PGA would have learned to NOT put all their eggs in one basket, yet, here they go again.
Why don’t they just give the guy a BJ and change the name of the game to “Tiger”...forget golf.
Morons.
OK, and I'm not sure we are really arguing with each other on your other points. You voiced an objection to my initial comment, which was in response to an article titled "The Masters: Tiger's charge proves he's back, once and for all".
But according to what you just said, it sounds like you disagree with the title, just as I disagreed with the title and the author's viewpoint as expressed in the article.
I wasn't implying he isn't a great golfer. It's certainly an achievement to come in 4th in a prestigious tournament. But it hardly shows he is "back", and for the author to pretend it proves it shows how far Tiger has fallen, that a 4th-place finish is considered proof he is "back".
That is what I meant to say, and what I thought I said to start with.
But what bothered me most of this tournament was the lack of American contenders. Sorry, but I pull for the good ol’ USA when in competition with foreign players.
I can't say I follow golf enough to be "pulling" for players, although I do like to see the American players on top. It certainly isn't Tiger's fault that other Americans aren't doing better.
PGA and Euro Tour events are counted equally in the world golf rankings.
Again, as I have noted before, where are these Europeans that you're talking about? Golf now--as it has always been--is dominated by the UK and the US; there are good players from former colonies, but that's always been the case. You are just seeing more of them now because travel is easier now than it was in the past. Players from far-flung countries can now more easily play more majors on US soil.
To wit: there is one good European player, and that's Kaymer. Other than him, please name one consistently good European player. They simply don't exist.
No Tiger isn’t ‘back’. I do think he showed vast improvement these past 4 days (day 2 & 4 especially) over the poor performances from last season. But he’s not the Tiger he was, and may never be. After all, he’s 35 years old. I’m not dwelling on Tiger, I’m dwelling on the American ‘field’ of golfers, and the state it’s in. Elsewhere, on another post, it was stated that in World standings Americans hold 4 of the top 10 positions, and 7 of the top 15. Golf, being as much an American sport as it is Scottish/Irish, we should be stronger than that; especially given the breath of field we have in our players (I specifically didn’t use ‘depth’ of field).
What I dislike is the notion that it takes a Tiger comeback to challenge the Europeans on our own turf. While I was elated to see him do so, even though he fell short, I was upset our field of contenders showed so miserably. He shouldn’t have been the highlight by himself. I wanted him to win, was rooting for him. But not because I’m a Tiger fan; because I wanted America to win the Masters. I’m an American, damn it. And I want us to win.
They have just turned the PSI way up, what excuse will they offer the next time stumbles....?
I personally think Nike threatened the MSM with pulling their advertisements and the revenue if they utter anything but praise for their “client”.
I was always told and always considered golf to be a gentleman's game. Jack, Arnie, Gary, Tom, Lee, etc proved that. Tiger is not and never has been a gentleman. That is why I always rooted against him.
Lee Westwood held the #1 standing before Kaymer. But it goes beyond Europe per se. Choi. Els. The Aussies. And yesterday we had a South African win. The first (to the day) in 50 years. We’re seeing World class players from around the globe. Sure, Els is aging, but he can still be ranked with the best.
Yesterday, of the top 15 finishes, we count 6 Americans, 13 foreigners. And except for Tiger tied for 4th, the balance finished tied for 8th place or beyond. If you don’t see that as a weakened American field, I can’t help it. But I do, and I don’t like it. At all.
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