Sunday, August 20, 2006

Tiger!!!



Sorry, can't resist. I have to post while he's playing a perfect round of golf. Four ahead of the competition now.

Did you see the 8th hole putt? Come on. He's inhuman.

Detroying the field. :) Makes me happy.

UPDATE: And he wins. :)




12 for 12 wins in the majors when he is tied for or has the outright lead on the last day.

Only four three bogeys for the whole week.

18 under par and 5 under second place.

12th major win (on the road to demolishing Jack Nicklaus' 18 major wins).

And the most loved athlete of our time. It's so nice to have an athletic hero we can admire without shame.

UPDATE: My favorite sports writer pays tribute to Tiger.

13 comments:

NoVA Dad said...

I have to ask -- do you yourself play golf?

Unknown said...

Nope! And never plan to. Jon is always asking me to come out but I just can't bring myself to play. I'm an avid spectator.

I grew up watching golf with my dad (all sports actually). Tiger is just one apart, you know?

Do you play?

Julie

isaiah said...

"Putt to the pitcher." Wise words from Tiger's father, which Tiger said he held in his head during the tournament.

Fundamentals, mastering them, and then getting out of your own way...seems to work best for anything from golf to meditation.

How easy he makes it look.

Bilbo said...

Hi Julie,

Didn't see the match and am not a golfer but do like sports, alot. Tiger is incredible and can't help thinking how much more mentally tough he is than everyone else. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact he played on public courses in L.A., while most of the other golfers grew up in country clubs and were members of a priviledged group of people in society. Hard to be mentally tough when you grow up in the neighborhood of the rich and famous. I just think Tiger wants it more...bottom line...

Brian said...

Julie,

I watched almost all of the tournament from Friday evening on. Tiger is definitely on a roll. Unless he changes his swing again, it's going to take them a while to catch up to him this time.

BTW, I'm pretty sure it was 3 bogeys for the week. I really wanted him to get to 20 under and he would have if anyone had pushed him. That bogey on 17 was just a case of playing it way too safe and putting the ball into the back bunker.

Tiger's my biggest sports hero now. The guy is just a class act. He's incredibly mature for a 30 year old. He's gracious. He gives back with his Tiger Woods foundation. It's just fun to watch him play golf to perfection.

Peace,
Brian

Unknown said...

Brian, thanks for the correction. Not sure how I misunderstood that but I double checked your memory and you were right. :)

Do you ever read Gene Wojciechowski? He's a terrific writer and I especially liked his column today. :)

Julie

NoVA Dad said...

Yeah, I play as often as I can -- but I'm a believer that I should get my money's worth for the greens fees. My career best is a 101, but I keep hacking away. I love the fellowship more than anything -- and I love to joke that my golf and bowling scores are pretty comparable (I let folks figure out HOW they're comparable:-)

David Blakeslee said...

That guy is a good golfer, the best of this era and maybe ever for all I know (but I think the competition is weaker than it was when Nicklaus was playing.) Gotta give him credit there.

But I like my Tigers in plural... as in the Detroit Tigers! I'm heading to Comerica on Thursday to see them square off against the White Sox. We are heading into some serious baseball drama in the Motor City!

Unknown said...

Well one thing's for certain. The courses are a lot harder than when Jack played. They had to lengthen them just for Tiger. :)

I hear you about baseball fever. Our Reds fans are going nuts with Cincinnati looking at winning the Wild Card. I don't even follow baseball and I find myself checking in for scores. :)

Good luck tigers.

Brian said...

I don't know that Tiger's competition is weaker than Jack's. So much has changed over the decades, it's very difficult to compare. Tiger is in a league by himself. Every now and then someone kind of rises to the challenge (Vijay, Phil, Sergio (kind of)). But, Tiger always kicks it into another gear.

In any event, it's just cool to watch Tiger do his thing. He seems to be able to do whatever it takes to win.

Peace,
Brian

Brian said...

Julie,

I hadn't read Gene Wojciechowski before. I can't disagree with much of what he said in his article. To compare Tiger and Michael though... I don't know. MJ had the same aura Tiger has and he thoroughly destroyed his opponents just like Tiger. I'd say Tiger is arguably the best athlete ever. But, MJ is a second close, IMO.

Unknown said...

You know Brian, golf might be the one sport where competition just isn't critical to performance. Tiger is breaking all kinds of records that have nothing to do with his current competition. In fact, I'd argue that he is mostly, now, competing with himself.

MJ had to go up against whatever caliber players were put on the floor with him. But in golf, it's you and a ball and a course parallel to the other guy with a ball and a course. There is certainly pressure that comes from wanting to beat the other guy's scores.... but it's not like head-to-head, defend against the other guy's attempts to get the ball in the hole (or hoop).

To me, Tiger is going to be remembered not just for great golf or shattering every golf related record ever set. He'll be remembered, as well, for handling it all gracefully while with that athletic intensity Americans admire.

MJ is in a class by himself for athletics, but I think Tiger is the whole package... at least so far. :)

Julie

Unknown said...

Glad you enjoyed Gene! He is so funny. I always love to read his take on the games or athletes I enjoy. He's got one long list of amazing references and metaphors that cheer me up no end.

Julie