THE END OF ELDRICK IS NOT THE END OF GOLF!

by Doug McAllister

Like many of you, I spent the day at PGA.com watching the marquee coverage. For part of the day that included the winners of the three previous majors of the year, Mickelson, McDowell and Oosthuizen. But, for the afternoon, it included Tiger Woods (Oh...and a couple of other guys. I think their names were Singh and Yang).

And what transpired was unbelievable. Just how biased toward Tiger do you need to be in order to land a spot as a PGA commentator? Every time Tiger managed a par — which is all he did during coverage, including a horrible lip out for a missed birdie on the last hole played! Every time he managed a par they spoke in terms so glowing that you'd think we were witnessing again something akin to Tiger's run-away win in 2000 at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach!

And what was said about the stellar play of Matt Kuchar, who just happens to currently lead the event? Nothing! Not a word. Sure. They would say every now and then that Kuchar was leading. No praise. No kudos! I had to laugh when, after play for the day was suspended, they recapped Tiger's round, something that we had all just watched! Holy Cow! Let's recap Tiger's play? What the heck for? It was obvious that the best play was by other players. Why not recap them?

Here's hoping that things improve tomorrow. We don't need a wild PR blitz to attempt to tell one and all that — should Tiger not win this one or not be picked for this year's Ryder Cup team or not make the FedEx Cup Playoffs — that the golfing world will implode like a black hole and spiral into the sun!

Tiger Woods is not golf and golf is not Tiger Woods. It's that simple. So why all of this nonsense about Tiger? Quite simply, Tiger is a marketing ploy. That's it! Some marketing executive for the PGA has his head on the block. He thinks that the only way to save golf's bottom line this year is to have Tiger back in the proverbial "swing of things." Will the bottom line take a hit without Tiger? Not where true golf aficionados are concerned. Golf will go along just fine without Eldrick and other golfers, sensing a freer, clearer field, will grab their chance to win and go out and...

Hit 'em Long and Straight!