BIGREDIOWAN Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Who's afraid of big, bad Tiger? Everyone, it seems By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Columnist August 20, 2006 MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- The practice green can be a lonely place, even when it's surrounded by hundreds of people. Mike Weir and Geoff Ogilvy were the only ones on it Sunday afternoon at Medinah Country Club as they stroked their final putts in silence, looking like condemned convicts hoping for a reprieve. Their tee time was just minutes away. Their chances of winning the PGA Championship must have seemed a million miles away. ADVERTISEMENT Still, the starter was calling their names. And after all, second place money of $734,400 is a good payday even for millionaire golfers. And somebody had to make sure all the spike marks were tapped down for Tiger Woods. Not that it really mattered. The way these guys laid down for Woods, he could have won with caddie Steve Williams putting for him. Jack Nicklaus used to intimidate his opponents. Woods frightens his. He hadn't even stepped up to the first tee on Sunday and they were already falling apart. By the time his birdie on the first hole went up on the scoreboards, this major championship was pretty much history. Woods' challengers disappeared so quickly they could have stopped for lunch after nine and nobody would have noticed. Not that they would have been able to keep it down, the way they kept spitting it up all day. By the time it was over, it was hard to figure out who was more in awe of Woods, the players who had just spent four hours helping crown him champion or the schoolboys clamoring for his autograph. "He's just better than us," a weary Ogilvy said. "Someone has to be the best. Why not him?" Why do they even try? Woods, as has been well documented, has never lost a major when leading going into the last round, and there was nothing in his game this week to indicate he would back up on a golf course he found to his liking. But try they did, even though there was nothing in the pedigree of anyone chasing Woods to indicate that they would break this streak. Weir had a Masters green jacket, but that seems so long ago. And Ogilvy's U.S. Open trophy should have a picture next to his name of Phil Mickelson collapsing. Luke Donald probably had the best chance -- or at least the best view of Woods running over him. He was not only tied with Woods at 14-under going into the final round, but was paired with him in the final group. Donald was feeling so good about his chances that he even showed up on the first tee in a red shirt -- a fashion faux pas since anyone knows red is Woods' color for the final round of a major. Woods didn't seem too concerned about it, though he wasn't as sure about Donald's sense of style. "I thought it was kind of weird to have a blue belt with it," Woods said. Donald, a nice enough guy who probably didn't realize all that he was getting into, was a shot down after one, two down after four and four behind after six. Afterward, he tried to make something positive out of it all. "I'll learn from this," he vowed. "I'll be a better player." Chris DiMarco felt some sympathy for Donald. He had been there himself with Woods in a final round, only to leave empty-handed. "You'd think -- you'd think -- going to the first tee, he'd be the one feeling the pressure because everyone's expecting him to win, and it's the exact opposite," DiMarco said. "He doesn't. The guy playing with him feels the most pressure." That's the way it was with Nicklaus in his prime, too, with one big difference. Nicklaus had some challengers with majors credentials who weren't afraid to get into a shootout with the greatest player of his time. Woods has challengers who seem to have trouble keeping themselves from genuflecting in front of him. Which begs the question: Is Woods that good or are the guys chasing him that bad? "He's that good," Nicklaus said Sunday. "The guy is playing just great golf, terrific golf." When it was over on this day, Woods came out of the scorer's trailer, planted a big kiss on wife Elin's lips and walked hand-in-hand with her to the 18th green to pick up the Wanamaker Trophy. His opponents were left scattered around the grounds, muttering to themselves and wondering who among them will some day finally rise to the challenge. One thing for sure: Whoever finally does won't be conceding before getting to the first tee. "I'm not sure anything ever bothers him," Shaun Micheel said. "I wish I had that feeling just once." In today's world of steroids and cheating golf to me is one of the only sports left untanted!!!! I think Tiger is the greatest sport icon of my lifetime!!! It's a tossup between him and Michael Jordan. However Michael did have some gambling issues!!! Since I am an avid golfer I obviously am a little biased. He is a role model for me and everyone else. What do you think???? Quote Link to comment
gamecocks Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 He played darn well today. No one was even close after the first three holes. His partner could barely make par with Tiger sinking birdies all day. Quote Link to comment
BIGREDIOWAN Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 Can you imagine playing with Tiger on Sunday when he's leading, and the pressure involved!!! Quote Link to comment
AgMarauder04 Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 He seems to have regained his focus. Quote Link to comment
Hunter94 Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 for those of us lucky enough to watch him "grow up" on the PGA circuit.....there may never be another like him for quite a while......his dad Earl did a great job raising/teaching him........cudos to Tiger hunter Quote Link to comment
ttheKid1*18 Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 He is halfway to another "Tigerslam", and I think he could get it again. He always loves the Masters, and the U.S. Open would be a toss up. A great golfer, that I think will win well over 20 majors, and go down as the greatest in history. Quote Link to comment
AR Husker Fan Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 ***SNIP*** In today's world of steroids and cheating golf to me is one of the only sports left untanted!!!! I think Tiger is the greatest sport icon of my lifetime!!! It's a tossup between him and Michael Jordan. However Michael did have some gambling issues!!! ***SNIP*** As I understand it, Tiger loves to gamble, also... Quote Link to comment
BIGREDIOWAN Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 QUOTE (BIGREDIOWAN @ Aug 20 2006, 11:18 PM) ***SNIP*** In today's world of steroids and cheating golf to me is one of the only sports left untanted!!!! I think Tiger is the greatest sport icon of my lifetime!!! It's a tossup between him and Michael Jordan. However Michael did have some gambling issues!!! ***SNIP*** hhhmmm.........I've never heard that so I can't hold it against him just yet. Quote Link to comment
AR Husker Fan Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 QUOTE (BIGREDIOWAN @ Aug 20 2006, 11:18 PM) ***SNIP*** In today's world of steroids and cheating golf to me is one of the only sports left untanted!!!! I think Tiger is the greatest sport icon of my lifetime!!! It's a tossup between him and Michael Jordan. However Michael did have some gambling issues!!! ***SNIP*** hhhmmm.........I've never heard that so I can't hold it against him just yet. He likes it enough to have paid $50,000 for a private poker lessons from Phil Ivey... LINK Quote Link to comment
Jarred04 Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 A true competetor once said "I don't want to lose at anything....ever." Jordan does gamble and I am sure Tiger does too. One, they have enough money, and two, their lives have always been about competition and being better than those around them. I have read many books about Jordan, and they used to trick the rookies into playing card games/pool games and anything else with Mike, and they never won. He, like Tiger, have more cometitive drive than any of us could ever dream. This drive and determination doesn't always end on the course/field/court. Plus, once you have dominated one sport, why not try another? To get back to Tiger- I love to watch him play, and win. I hate it when people complain that the only player you see is Tiger. NEWS FLASH, he isn't a joke. Why watch the second best player? Why watch someone else when Tiger is doing what only the Golden Bear has acomplished. He is poetry in motion, and is one of the best competitors the world has seen. Golf may not be a sport to some, but Tiger is one hell of a student to the game of golf. He is one of my personal heros, and it is scary to think most professional golfers don't hit their peak until their mid 30's. Congrats to Tiger, and I apologize for the long post. True players wear red. Quote Link to comment
BIGREDIOWAN Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 That reminds me............yesterday my wife asked me why Tiger wears red on Sundays??? I told her the same reason the Huskers wear red!!!! The color red signifies dominance, a winning tradition, and it strikes fear in the hearts and minds of anyone that dares cross its path!!!! Quote Link to comment
Lonestar_Husker Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Tiger gambles. But is it really gambling when you win all the time? I think he has referred to MJ as his personal ATM. As a golf professional, I can't stress enough the level of skill that this man posesses, he has changed his swing 3 times and has won at every level. Hand eye coordination is unparalled. When he gets on a launch monitor, he knows everything before the computer even displays the numbers. Spin rate, launch angle, clubface open,closed degrees. Imagine, hit a ball, and know how fast it is spinning(2500rpm vs.2600rpm) know the difference between 12* and 13*launch and clubface was open 1/2*. His work ethic is unmatched, except for maybe Vijay. Who wouldn't want to watch history in the making? Quote Link to comment
BIGREDIOWAN Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 Tiger gambles. But is it really gambling when you win all the time? I think he has referred to MJ as his personal ATM. As a golf professional, I can't stress enough the level of skill that this man posesses, he has changed his swing 3 times and has won at every level. Hand eye coordination is unparalled. When he gets on a launch monitor, he knows everything before the computer even displays the numbers. Spin rate, launch angle, clubface open,closed degrees. Imagine, hit a ball, and know how fast it is spinning(2500rpm vs.2600rpm) know the difference between 12* and 13*launch and clubface was open 1/2*. His work ethic is unmatched, except for maybe Vijay. Who wouldn't want to watch history in the making? I absolutely LOVE watching him play golf. It's insane what he can do with the ball. Quote Link to comment
T_O_Bull Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 ***SNIP*** In today's world of steroids and cheating golf to me is one of the only sports left untanted!!!! I think Tiger is the greatest sport icon of my lifetime!!! It's a tossup between him and Michael Jordan. However Michael did have some gambling issues!!! ***SNIP*** As I understand it, Tiger loves to gamble, also... Most golfers do. Quote Link to comment
T_O_Bull Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 We are indeed lucky to live at a time when we have the best ever in two sports still actively playing, Tiger Woods, Golf and Roger Federer, Tennis. This year we might also throw in the Tom Brady led NE Pats. >>>T_O_B Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.