Issue: Tiger finally tees it up this week at the Farmer's Insurance Open. Any thoughts?
Short Answer: I can't wait.
Reasoning: Golf is a sport in which dominance is nonexistent. The (arguably) greatest player of all time (to this point), Jack Nicklaus, still lost way more tournaments than he won. His 18 majors sit in the record books alongside 511 wins (Cy Young), 755 home runs (Barry Bonds is not the record holder, I don't care what anyone says), 61 home runs (ibid), 1,549 receptions and 22,895 receiving yards (Jerry Rice), and 5,714 strikeouts (Nolan Ryan) as records that may never be broken. 18 certainly does not seem like a lot in a sport where players compete for 20+ years, and each year four different majors are contested. But, when you take a look at how hard it is to win a major, or multiple majors for that fact, 18 becomes a hallowed number. In the history of major tournaments, did you know, that only 76 men have won more than one major? Did you also know that the list of men who have won 10 or more majors is exactly four people long? Walter Hagen (11), Bobby Jones (13 - if you count the old majors, i.e., the British Amateur and the U.S. Amateur), Tiger Woods (14), and Jack Nicklaus (18).
I mention the above facts because if Tiger Woods never wins another tournament, he has already positioned himself as one of the top three golfers of all time. In a sport that dates back longer than most, this is a fairly impressive accomplishment. And the fact that I am alive to watch Tiger play, means that I can't wait to see him play again, even if it is in the Farmer's Insurance Open. Many people have written Tiger Woods off, saying that he will never again be his old self. So what? Isn't what he gave us from 1999-2008 good enough? The answer is a resounding, yes. That being said, why would anyone write this guy off? Is it because he FINALLY went an entire year without winning a tournament? I would list all the PGA golfers who have never won a tournament in their entire career, but I'm not sure I have enough room. Tiger Woods is only 35 years old. He has won 71 times on the PGA Tour (3rd all time behind Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82)). So, the guy has some marital problems (his biggest mistake was getting married in the first place - dude, you are one of the most famous athletes on the planet, maybe you should ride that one out for awhile - just a thought) and one substandard year, and it is time to start looking for who's next? Bubba Watson, Ricky Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Ryo Ishikawa, and Graham McDowell are all fine players and may have fantastic careers on the PGA Tour. I will give you any of them, plus 2 shots a side, against Tiger, and I will bet you whatever amount of money you want. One bad year does not a career make, and we should be willing to give that benefit to Tiger.
Tiger's problem is not his game. It is his head. Before the media circus surrounding his accident a year and a half ago, Tiger was all about golf all the time. Now, you can see him attempting to be someone he isn't. He says hello to fans, grants interviews whenever, and doesn't have that killer look in his eyes anymore. If he can get that back, watch out. Jack Nicklaus won his 18th major, at the Masters in 1986, at the age of 46. Give me one reason Tiger can't still be winning majors at 46? He is in better shape, has better equipment, and (I think) still has the desire to be the best.
I have written a couple posts here at uncommonly sports about athletes who I believe have gotten a raw deal. Cam Newton and Michael Vick come to mind. Now, Tiger Woods has brought a lot of scrutiny on himself, so it is hard to say he has gotten a raw deal. But the amount of doubters out there lead me to believe that Tiger, like Lou Brown (manager of the Major League Cleveland Indians) once said, can't wait to give the media a great big s**tburger. I hope when he wins his first tournament of 2011 he stands up at the podium, holding his giant trophy and oversized check (yes, I realize they don't do this anymore) and gives everyone in the media tent the finger, says "I'm Tiger Woods b**ches," and walks out. Don't doubt Tiger - he has already proven how good he is, and I feel sorry for the field if he decides he has to do it again.
No comments:
Post a Comment