by Doug McAllister
Did you see the golf tournament over the weekend? The Verizon Heritage was played at Harbor Town Golf Links. Great venue, always, with classic designing and the picture postcard ending with the red and white lighthouse backing the 18th green. A truly superb event.
But, unless you saw the thing through to the very end, chances are you missed one of the great moments in this event — or any golf event, for that matter.
Brian Davis, a little known British golfer was in position to win his very first ever PGA event. Through solid play he was able to force a playoff with Jim Furyk. The playoff proceeded on the 18th tee with both players hitting journeyman shots as they approached the green. Davis, upon hitting his approach shot, missed left and ended up in a patch of grass and flotsam and jetsam and a difficult chip to the green. The stage was now set for the day's drama.
For whatever reason, Davis opted against a drop that would have cost him a stroke but would have given him an easy chip to the hole. Instead, he chose to play the ball as it lay and attempt a shot that would save him a stroke and possibly seal the win. Furyk's shots were fairly routine: an approach that rolled through the green and a long putt back that left him about a four footer for par.
Davis stepped up and, firmly setting his feet as one would in a bunker, seemed to hit a fair shot that skidded past the hole to the opposite side of the green and left him with a putt nearly as long as Furyk's first. He would apparently have two shots from there for his par and a continuation of the playoff.
But, stop the presses! Almost immediately following his "out," Davis called for Slugger White, the PGA official on hand to answer any and all rules questions. Impressively, Davis noted to White that, while making shot, he might have hit one of the many twigs that lay in a heap near where his ball had come to rest. He wasn't sure and suggested that a look a the shot in slow motion on the television might sort things out.
Indeed it did. As things turned, his back swing just clipped a twig. The next step was to determine whether the twig was, indeed, a loose impediment. Unfortunately, it was. The result: a penalty was assessed and, as Nick Faldo immediately, almost impulsively noted, the tournament was essentially over. Never mind that Davis went ahead and hit one putt — and missed. Never mind that Furyk, after receiving congratulations from a stunned Davis, still had to hit his putt — which he made. The tournament ended with a slight clip of a twig in a hazard and a penalty called by and assessed upon Brian Davis.
Truly one of the things that I love about golf. Players willing to call penalties upon themselves.
Never mind that, had he chosen to tell himself that he had imagined the "touch" and not say anything, Davis' penalty very likely would have been caught and reported by one of the plethora of tournament television vulturistic viewers who seem to tune in these days hoping to catch and report such infractions. In that case, Davis very likely would have been disqualified after signing and submitting an erroneous score card — meaning not only the loss of the tournament in total, but also the loss of his second place purse!
Might be tempted to say that Davis' actions were more prompted by that. Rather, I give him the benefit of the doubt, was impressed with what I saw and became, instantaneously, a Brian Davis fan for life!
So, until next time, be sure to hit 'em long and straight and, if necessary, call a penalty on yourself!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
NOT ROTELLA'S BEST
There are certainly a lot of golf instruction books out there. No doubt you've seen many and read some. Have to be careful with these. Many are pathetic rags that will do more to screw up your swing as improve it. Recently, though, I have begun to read books by Dr. Bob Rotella, a sports psychologist that has worked with some of golf's biggest names. One of the things that I like about Rotella is that he does nothing by way of swing instruction. His game is all about confidence and, for the most part, his instruction has been pretty good.
I first became acquainted with Bob Rotella, as many others have, through his book, GOLF IS NOT A GAME OF PERFECT (hereafter, just PERFECT). So well written, so straightforward and so applicable, PERFECT spoke to all of the mental concerns that I have with my golf game.
So, naturally, it made perfect sense to get Rotella's newest book, YOUR 15TH CLUB: THE INNER SECRET TO GREAT GOLF, especially since Rotella had positioned this book as a companion volume to, PERFECT, the landmark work that so many had read and loved.
At first, 15TH CLUB seemed to be everything that I hoped it would be. Aside from a few sections where Rotella seems to get too enamored with his own psychology, the book seemed to flow and read just as well as PERFECT.
But, just when things seemed to reach the denouement promised in the title, namely revealing the SECRET TO GREAT GOLF, Rotella completely falls off the planet. Enter Padraig Harrington and Rotella's previously unknown position as President of the Padraig Harrington Fan Club! Two tedious, inexplicable chapters emerge wherein Rotella simply sings the praises of Paddy without really relating anything to the abandoned reader. Yes, the first of the chapters, titled "What I Learned from Padraig Harrington," seems to promise the reader a chance to learn some important mental tips from the Irish champion but then becomes Rotella's regurgitation of how Paddy played this tournament or that one.
But as I finished wading through the mess, the next chapter title seemed to offer some hope. Titled "Putting it All Together," this final chapter would surely get things back on track and, at long last, reveal the secret to great golf promised by the author. I couldn't have been more wrong. The final chapter was nothing more than Padraig Harrington - Part Deux!
Oh! One last thing. If you want to get the Yips, the neurological putting problem that plagues many of the game's best, simply read 15TH CLUB's Chapter 13: Nip the Yips. Nothing that I have ever read will put the wrong putting thoughts into your head more than this well-meant but surpassingly misguided chapter!
Stick with Rotella's excellent book, GOLF IS NOT A GAME OF PERFECT, and forget this one.
And remember...
Hit 'em long and straight!
Monday, April 12, 2010
A MASTERFUL MASTERS...EVEN WITH TIGER!
by Doug McAllister
Did you get a chance to see the Masters? Sure you did! You, like me, were drawn by the pristine history of one of golf's greatest venues. You tuned in to view the historical clips and to just take in the astonishing beauty that is Augusta National! That's it right?
Okay, you may have been one of the umpteen viewers who just couldn't stay away from the Tiger sideshow. Granted, I can forgive that. Would he win? Would he play well? Would we see a new Tiger, devoid of the tantrums and profanity as he promised? Well, let's take a look at each of the questions one at a time
WOULD HE WIN? WOULD HE PLAY WELL?
Let's kill the first to birdies with one stone!
I have to admit, along with Nick Faldo in his commentary, that it was astonishing to see Tiger doing as well as he did. The fact that he had become the target of so much tabloid interest, the fact that virtually everyone in the live gallery — not to mention the millions in the virtual gallery — had an polarized opinion, would have driven the sanest of us mad! I have to admit that I was astonished at how well he did. I was predicting that Tiger would implode before finishing the front nine on Thursday! He came far closer to winning that I ever thought possible.
But, no, he fell just short. Sorry if that is a plot spoiler for those of you who haven't yet watched your recorded version of the event. No, Phil Mickelson was just too strong for Tiger — and for everyone else for that matter. And thank goodness he was. His flawless play. His focus on his wife and mother and children throughout the event. His floppy mop of a haircut (wait, that one wasn't supposed to be in there—apologies!). All was woven together to create the fabric of what will be one of the most memorable Masters tournaments ever! And given Tiger's troubles, golf needed the squeaky-clean persona — on and off the course — that only Phil Mickelson could provide!
WOULD WE SEE A NEW TIGER...?
It didn't take long on the Saturday telecast to get an answer to this one. Tiger, as he has been known to do, hits an errant drive and, without the slightest bit of hesitation, lets loose with his trademark barrage of profanity. There it was for the world to hear. No "greater respect for the game..." No "kinder, gentler Tiger..." No "thousand points of light..." But, I've strayed into political cliches. In short, no new Tiger. It didn't take long, either, for Jim Nantz to appropriately pounce on the infraction. Nantz echoed my feelings when he noted how very disappointing it was for Tiger, just six days shy of his most recent penance party, to not even seem to try to restrain himself. Indeed, I was disappointed. But not surprised.
Other news clips featured patrons of the event being interviewed about the various incidents of Tiger's most recent hypocrisy. Two women, when interviewed, did not hesitate for a second when asked whether they felt they had seen the "new" Tiger. "No! Same old Tiger," they both responded, "bad shot and then expletive, expletive!"
Perhaps I can find it in myself to cut Tiger some slack. Under tremendous pressure. Disappointed in his sporadic game. Old habits die hard. Again, Nick Faldo was willing to cut him some slack when asked about it on air. But what most disappointed me regarding the whole issue were Tiger's snotty, disrespectful, in-your-face responses to Peter Kostis when interviewed following the loss. Kostis calmly and politely asked Tiger about his resolutions to keep his word regarding having greater respect for the game. Tiger sprang on his unsuspecting prey. He immediately worked to sidestep the whole question. People were making too much of it. He had every right to be disappointed in a bad shot. Blah. Blah. Blah. As has been the case ever since his return to golf, he wouldn't address the question. Kostis hadn't said anything about Tiger's right to be disappointed. He had asked about Tiger's promised resolution to react differently to disappointment.
For example, I have been watching golf for decades. I have seen the very best in the game make some of the worst shots imaginable. You name 'em: Jack, Arnold, Tom, Gary. In each case, it was easy to read the disappointment following botched shots but there were no episodes of club throwing or of volcanic eruptions of profanity. None. Did people expect them to walk away with, as Tiger ludicrously noted, a "pep in [their] step?" Certainly not. Nor did people at this year's Masters expect Tiger to be dancing jigs following some of the worst shots that he has ever played. What was expected was that he would make a concerted effort to keep his word and begin the process of showing greater respect for the game, its history and its fans. It didn't happen. And the game is the worse for it!
I had to smile when, just prior to the traditional Butler Cabin Green Jacket presentation, Augusta Chairman, Billy Payne, noted how "extremely pleased" he was with the tournament and its outcome. Extremely pleased, huh? Ecstatic! would have been an even better word. With all of the nonsense that Tiger has brought to the game recently, how would you not be extremely pleased to have the sport's current greatest gentleman — arguably a modern day personification of Bobby Jones, himself — stepping forward to don golf's greatest prize?
So in the end, Tiger proved to be the footnote in this year's Masters that many predicted him to be. He was close but was never really a factor in the championship. It was one of the best Masters championships in recent years. One of which Bobby would have been extremely proud. Besides, the refreshing thing was that the other players seemed to be fully focused on what they needed to do to win and not on Tiger. That was especially true for Phil.
Until my next blurb: Hit 'em long and straight!
Did you get a chance to see the Masters? Sure you did! You, like me, were drawn by the pristine history of one of golf's greatest venues. You tuned in to view the historical clips and to just take in the astonishing beauty that is Augusta National! That's it right?
Okay, you may have been one of the umpteen viewers who just couldn't stay away from the Tiger sideshow. Granted, I can forgive that. Would he win? Would he play well? Would we see a new Tiger, devoid of the tantrums and profanity as he promised? Well, let's take a look at each of the questions one at a time
WOULD HE WIN? WOULD HE PLAY WELL?
Let's kill the first to birdies with one stone!
I have to admit, along with Nick Faldo in his commentary, that it was astonishing to see Tiger doing as well as he did. The fact that he had become the target of so much tabloid interest, the fact that virtually everyone in the live gallery — not to mention the millions in the virtual gallery — had an polarized opinion, would have driven the sanest of us mad! I have to admit that I was astonished at how well he did. I was predicting that Tiger would implode before finishing the front nine on Thursday! He came far closer to winning that I ever thought possible.
But, no, he fell just short. Sorry if that is a plot spoiler for those of you who haven't yet watched your recorded version of the event. No, Phil Mickelson was just too strong for Tiger — and for everyone else for that matter. And thank goodness he was. His flawless play. His focus on his wife and mother and children throughout the event. His floppy mop of a haircut (wait, that one wasn't supposed to be in there—apologies!). All was woven together to create the fabric of what will be one of the most memorable Masters tournaments ever! And given Tiger's troubles, golf needed the squeaky-clean persona — on and off the course — that only Phil Mickelson could provide!
WOULD WE SEE A NEW TIGER...?
It didn't take long on the Saturday telecast to get an answer to this one. Tiger, as he has been known to do, hits an errant drive and, without the slightest bit of hesitation, lets loose with his trademark barrage of profanity. There it was for the world to hear. No "greater respect for the game..." No "kinder, gentler Tiger..." No "thousand points of light..." But, I've strayed into political cliches. In short, no new Tiger. It didn't take long, either, for Jim Nantz to appropriately pounce on the infraction. Nantz echoed my feelings when he noted how very disappointing it was for Tiger, just six days shy of his most recent penance party, to not even seem to try to restrain himself. Indeed, I was disappointed. But not surprised.
Other news clips featured patrons of the event being interviewed about the various incidents of Tiger's most recent hypocrisy. Two women, when interviewed, did not hesitate for a second when asked whether they felt they had seen the "new" Tiger. "No! Same old Tiger," they both responded, "bad shot and then expletive, expletive!"
Perhaps I can find it in myself to cut Tiger some slack. Under tremendous pressure. Disappointed in his sporadic game. Old habits die hard. Again, Nick Faldo was willing to cut him some slack when asked about it on air. But what most disappointed me regarding the whole issue were Tiger's snotty, disrespectful, in-your-face responses to Peter Kostis when interviewed following the loss. Kostis calmly and politely asked Tiger about his resolutions to keep his word regarding having greater respect for the game. Tiger sprang on his unsuspecting prey. He immediately worked to sidestep the whole question. People were making too much of it. He had every right to be disappointed in a bad shot. Blah. Blah. Blah. As has been the case ever since his return to golf, he wouldn't address the question. Kostis hadn't said anything about Tiger's right to be disappointed. He had asked about Tiger's promised resolution to react differently to disappointment.
For example, I have been watching golf for decades. I have seen the very best in the game make some of the worst shots imaginable. You name 'em: Jack, Arnold, Tom, Gary. In each case, it was easy to read the disappointment following botched shots but there were no episodes of club throwing or of volcanic eruptions of profanity. None. Did people expect them to walk away with, as Tiger ludicrously noted, a "pep in [their] step?" Certainly not. Nor did people at this year's Masters expect Tiger to be dancing jigs following some of the worst shots that he has ever played. What was expected was that he would make a concerted effort to keep his word and begin the process of showing greater respect for the game, its history and its fans. It didn't happen. And the game is the worse for it!
I had to smile when, just prior to the traditional Butler Cabin Green Jacket presentation, Augusta Chairman, Billy Payne, noted how "extremely pleased" he was with the tournament and its outcome. Extremely pleased, huh? Ecstatic! would have been an even better word. With all of the nonsense that Tiger has brought to the game recently, how would you not be extremely pleased to have the sport's current greatest gentleman — arguably a modern day personification of Bobby Jones, himself — stepping forward to don golf's greatest prize?
So in the end, Tiger proved to be the footnote in this year's Masters that many predicted him to be. He was close but was never really a factor in the championship. It was one of the best Masters championships in recent years. One of which Bobby would have been extremely proud. Besides, the refreshing thing was that the other players seemed to be fully focused on what they needed to do to win and not on Tiger. That was especially true for Phil.
Until my next blurb: Hit 'em long and straight!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
"DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING?"
by Doug McAllister
Have you seen it? Nike's new ad featuring Tiger Woods? There he stands with a plastic mug-shot, hang-dog, sad-eyed face — says nothing. The voice over is from Earl Woods, Tiger's late father. "What were you thinking," Earl asks. "Did you learn anything?" Touching stuff.
Well, here I am again, screaming at the top of my lungs that the emperor of golf is naked! There are no new clothes. It's all become a PR sham. And to make matters far worse, I hate Nike's attempt at manipulation here. This is absolute baloney — and I didn't even know that Nike was in the lunch meat market! They want us to feel better about Tiger? They want us to forgive him and allow him his rightful place in the pantheon of golf?
Not hardly! They want our money! That's always been the game and none other. Were Tiger off his game instead of off his morals they would drop him into the nearest water hazard! They could care less about Tiger, the person or the man. All they care about is the bottom line and they want us thinking better about Tiger just as soon as possible.
I can hear some of you now. "MAN, YOU'RE NUTS! Nike, that bastion of feel good American sports that brought us the likes of the "Can You Dig It?" Marion Jones liberation ads, would never knowingly try to manipulate anyone! They are as interested in us and our feelings as were our kindergarten teachers. Right?
Wrong! Let's all try to keep our heads still and our eyes square on the ball, Nike or otherwise, on this one. I don't mind Nike fairly marketing its product and doing its darnedest to make an honest buck. Let's play Nike clubs, tee up Nike balls or wear Nike shoes because we like them better, because they perform better for us than other products on the market. But, please, let's not be duped into believing that Nike needs playing because of the burgeoning, irresponsible media circus that swirls around Tiger Woods!
So until next time, whether with a Nike One Tour D or a Titleist Pro V1, hit 'em long and straight!
Have you seen it? Nike's new ad featuring Tiger Woods? There he stands with a plastic mug-shot, hang-dog, sad-eyed face — says nothing. The voice over is from Earl Woods, Tiger's late father. "What were you thinking," Earl asks. "Did you learn anything?" Touching stuff.
Well, here I am again, screaming at the top of my lungs that the emperor of golf is naked! There are no new clothes. It's all become a PR sham. And to make matters far worse, I hate Nike's attempt at manipulation here. This is absolute baloney — and I didn't even know that Nike was in the lunch meat market! They want us to feel better about Tiger? They want us to forgive him and allow him his rightful place in the pantheon of golf?
Not hardly! They want our money! That's always been the game and none other. Were Tiger off his game instead of off his morals they would drop him into the nearest water hazard! They could care less about Tiger, the person or the man. All they care about is the bottom line and they want us thinking better about Tiger just as soon as possible.
I can hear some of you now. "MAN, YOU'RE NUTS! Nike, that bastion of feel good American sports that brought us the likes of the "Can You Dig It?" Marion Jones liberation ads, would never knowingly try to manipulate anyone! They are as interested in us and our feelings as were our kindergarten teachers. Right?
Wrong! Let's all try to keep our heads still and our eyes square on the ball, Nike or otherwise, on this one. I don't mind Nike fairly marketing its product and doing its darnedest to make an honest buck. Let's play Nike clubs, tee up Nike balls or wear Nike shoes because we like them better, because they perform better for us than other products on the market. But, please, let's not be duped into believing that Nike needs playing because of the burgeoning, irresponsible media circus that swirls around Tiger Woods!
So until next time, whether with a Nike One Tour D or a Titleist Pro V1, hit 'em long and straight!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
THE TIG-EROR'S NEW CLOTHES
by Doug McAllister
Tiger is coming back and the whole world his happy. Children are preceding his every step, tossing rose petals in his way. The birds sing happily in the trees and the magnolias sway gracefully in Augusta's fair spring breezes! It's absolutely perfect, isn't it?
There's just one problem: like the Emperor from Hans Christian Andersen's timeless fable, Tiger, figuratively speaking, is as naked as the day that he was born. The problem is that none of us wants to admit it.
No, he's not literally naked! That's why I said "figuratively."
So, what do I mean? Quite simply I am tired of all of the hullabaloo about Tiger. I am one of those who feels that his supposed contributions to the game of golf are suspect at best. What, really, has Tiger brought to the game? I ask it simply. What has he really brought to the game? How has he made it better?
HERE COME THE TIGER TRASH!
First, he has brought, by bad example and by his movie star presence, a whole bunch of golfers who really aren't prepared to play the Royal & Ancient game as it should be played. Oh, sure, they have all of the necessary equipment and accessories. They have the wherewithal to pay greens fees. What they lack is any sense of the history of the game or of its etiquette. They tramp around the course whooping and hollering, leaving tracks in sand traps and divots in fairways. They march onto the course and think that all there is to golf is hitting a little white ball from a little white peg and BOOM! they are just like Tiger! My son has appropriately dubbed this breed of golfers Tiger Trash, golfers who wouldn't have anything to do with golf if it weren't for Tiger!
Now, am I saying that golf is exclusive and that some deserve to play while others don't? Absolutely not! What I am saying, though, is if you want to play the game, learn something about its history and rules and etiquette before heading to the course. You will enjoy it more and so will all of those who are there with you on the course!
NEW EQUIPMENT EVERY YEAR!
As strange as it may seem to some, there was a time, not too very long ago, when people actually played a set of golf clubs for as many as twenty years! What a revelation! I can hear the wailing among the Tiger Trash as I write! Yes, people actually bought well-made golf clubs and actually played them for years. They were not told, as we are now, that one's golf game will be better — far better! — by simply changing clubs every year just like Tiger does. Believe it or not, people used to actually buy golf shoes and wear them until they were appropriately worn out too!
Tiger has been a marketing godsend. Yep, I blame Tiger for the mentality that now pervades golf that one should change clubs and shoes and golf balls like one should change his or her underwear. Do it daily. It's good for the game!
No wonder there is such fear in the hearts of PGA executives and of tournament sponsors when Tiger, suffering for this week's hangnail, won't be in the field. The fear is almost paralyzing that fans won't watch. And if people don't watch, they won't be seduced to hurry off and find the latest golf paraphernalia that Tiger and others are stumping. If such is the case, Heaven forbid, mass terror may ensue. Sales may drop. People may make due with the equipment they bought just last week. And, worst of all, a tear may form in the space/time continuum and all life on earth with explode at the speed of sound and cease to exist!
SEEING THE TIG-EROR FOR WHAT HE IS
Okay, enough already. While he has broken records, right and left, Tiger is not the resplendent Emperor of Golf that too many have tried to make him. Tiger is just one golfer and one who, in this writer's humble opinion, will likely be the sort of sports history entry now enjoyed by the likes of Barry Bonds. There will be, given revelations of his recent indiscretions, unsavory footnotes that will follow him forever. There is nothing sport-shattering about him. Yes, he has won and will continue to win — just as Bonds continued to hit home runs long after doubts about his real contributions were raised.
THE MASTERS IS THE MASTERS—WITH TIGER OR NOT!
And please don't forget that the Masters Championship will continue to be the jewel that it is with or without Tiger. I rather think that this year's event—especially if Tiger manages to win it—is already the poorer for the sideshow that has ensued with Tiger's return. I am one of those golfers that believes that, if Tiger had any respect for the game, he would have chosen one of the more commonplace events for his return to golf, rather than turning one of its most honored events into the latest offering from P.T. Barnum and Company!
Until next time and especially during this year's Masters, go out to your favorite course and hit 'em long and straight!
Tiger is coming back and the whole world his happy. Children are preceding his every step, tossing rose petals in his way. The birds sing happily in the trees and the magnolias sway gracefully in Augusta's fair spring breezes! It's absolutely perfect, isn't it?
There's just one problem: like the Emperor from Hans Christian Andersen's timeless fable, Tiger, figuratively speaking, is as naked as the day that he was born. The problem is that none of us wants to admit it.
No, he's not literally naked! That's why I said "figuratively."
So, what do I mean? Quite simply I am tired of all of the hullabaloo about Tiger. I am one of those who feels that his supposed contributions to the game of golf are suspect at best. What, really, has Tiger brought to the game? I ask it simply. What has he really brought to the game? How has he made it better?
HERE COME THE TIGER TRASH!
First, he has brought, by bad example and by his movie star presence, a whole bunch of golfers who really aren't prepared to play the Royal & Ancient game as it should be played. Oh, sure, they have all of the necessary equipment and accessories. They have the wherewithal to pay greens fees. What they lack is any sense of the history of the game or of its etiquette. They tramp around the course whooping and hollering, leaving tracks in sand traps and divots in fairways. They march onto the course and think that all there is to golf is hitting a little white ball from a little white peg and BOOM! they are just like Tiger! My son has appropriately dubbed this breed of golfers Tiger Trash, golfers who wouldn't have anything to do with golf if it weren't for Tiger!
Now, am I saying that golf is exclusive and that some deserve to play while others don't? Absolutely not! What I am saying, though, is if you want to play the game, learn something about its history and rules and etiquette before heading to the course. You will enjoy it more and so will all of those who are there with you on the course!
NEW EQUIPMENT EVERY YEAR!
As strange as it may seem to some, there was a time, not too very long ago, when people actually played a set of golf clubs for as many as twenty years! What a revelation! I can hear the wailing among the Tiger Trash as I write! Yes, people actually bought well-made golf clubs and actually played them for years. They were not told, as we are now, that one's golf game will be better — far better! — by simply changing clubs every year just like Tiger does. Believe it or not, people used to actually buy golf shoes and wear them until they were appropriately worn out too!
Tiger has been a marketing godsend. Yep, I blame Tiger for the mentality that now pervades golf that one should change clubs and shoes and golf balls like one should change his or her underwear. Do it daily. It's good for the game!
No wonder there is such fear in the hearts of PGA executives and of tournament sponsors when Tiger, suffering for this week's hangnail, won't be in the field. The fear is almost paralyzing that fans won't watch. And if people don't watch, they won't be seduced to hurry off and find the latest golf paraphernalia that Tiger and others are stumping. If such is the case, Heaven forbid, mass terror may ensue. Sales may drop. People may make due with the equipment they bought just last week. And, worst of all, a tear may form in the space/time continuum and all life on earth with explode at the speed of sound and cease to exist!
SEEING THE TIG-EROR FOR WHAT HE IS
Okay, enough already. While he has broken records, right and left, Tiger is not the resplendent Emperor of Golf that too many have tried to make him. Tiger is just one golfer and one who, in this writer's humble opinion, will likely be the sort of sports history entry now enjoyed by the likes of Barry Bonds. There will be, given revelations of his recent indiscretions, unsavory footnotes that will follow him forever. There is nothing sport-shattering about him. Yes, he has won and will continue to win — just as Bonds continued to hit home runs long after doubts about his real contributions were raised.
THE MASTERS IS THE MASTERS—WITH TIGER OR NOT!
And please don't forget that the Masters Championship will continue to be the jewel that it is with or without Tiger. I rather think that this year's event—especially if Tiger manages to win it—is already the poorer for the sideshow that has ensued with Tiger's return. I am one of those golfers that believes that, if Tiger had any respect for the game, he would have chosen one of the more commonplace events for his return to golf, rather than turning one of its most honored events into the latest offering from P.T. Barnum and Company!
Until next time and especially during this year's Masters, go out to your favorite course and hit 'em long and straight!
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