Tiger will never lose again
It's official: Tiger Woods just won No. 5 in a row, posting a spectacular 8-under par. Tiger plunked 2 birdies and 2 eagles on the front nine (thanks minsuhson!), to come back from 3 shots behind Vijay Singh within what felt like a heartbeat. That was virtually the knock-out punch. Although Vijay shot a respectable 68 today, he seemed to be standing still while Woods got off to a ferrari-fast start. And, in answer to mulligan's question, neither men wore facial hair today. Go figure.
The way that Tiger is playing, he doesn't look like he will ever lose again.
Tournaments thinking about "Tiger proofing" their courses should start thinking of better ways to ramp up the competition. For example, one simple way to bring out more competition for Tiger would be to reduce 72 hole tournaments to 36 or 18 holes. Call me crazy, but some tourneys might even be 9 hole tournaments on Sunday. Shorter tournaments will bring more players into contention. Tiger rarely wins tournaments wire to wire. Tiger's good for TV ratings, but the only way he will face any real competition is making the golf tournament harder to produce separation of scores. Let's see Tiger win 5 consecutive 9-hole tournaments in a row.
The other alternative is to switch to putt-putt style greens.
18 Comments:
Two years ago in this event, Vijay and Tiger were in the last group, with Vijay starting with a three stroke lead. This was when Vijay won nine events in the year, and Tiger was recovering from knee surgery and redoing his swing. Tiger clawed back to tie Vijay, but Vijay pulled it off in the end, which put Vijay into the #1 spot for a short time.
I’m sure that this drove Tiger today. Tiger had won four events in five weeks – two majors, and a World Golf Championship event, and early this week, flew to Ireland for two days! Yet despite that, being exhausted, etc., he crushed Vijay today. There were only three eagles all day on the course, and two of them were Tiger’s in his first seven holes.
This was Tiger’s lowest final round score ever. He just stepped it up, and I’m sure it was ‘cause of Vijay.
(Tidbit – Tiger’s first professional paycheck 10 years ago: $2,544 (he had also just signed endorsements for tens of millions of dollars). This season (2006), he had earned $2,472 per shot before today’s win.)
Earlier this year, Stephen Ames made some crack about Tiger’s driving before the Match Play event, and Tiger then beat Stephen like a drum. Ames is no slouch – he then won the Players Championship.
Tiger is 9-1 in playoffs (trivia – Billy Mayfair is the only one to beat him). 9-1!!
Nicklaus was 12-10 in playoffs!
Jack won 6 events or more in a single year twice. Tiger has already done it four times.
Actually, today Tiger had 2 eagles and 2 birdies, on the front nine, which makes his play that much more remarkable. Who does that?
Oh and of course, we should not forget to give Vijay big props for his performance. Finally, showing up and slapping it down, and giving Tiger a good run for his money. Otherwise, today's tournament would have just been another hohum day in the annals of Tiger Woods.
All I can say is WOW!!
And I think Tiger is actually 10-1 in playoffs.
Seems appropriate to start comparing Tiger's career with Hogan's.
In Hogan's favor, officially he only won nine majors, but consider this -
1)he lost 3 full years at the top of his game to WW2
2) he lost another full year to his auto accident
3) the British Open and the PGA Championship were played during the same week throughout his career.
Considering these factors, he could have easily approached Nicklaus' record of 18 majors, had he had an equal opportunity to compete in so many. Also, his 63 career victories could have easily been closer to 80.
However, consider Hogan's world in 1946. He was 34 years old. He had been on tour for over 12 years. Despite having 23 victories and being considered the best ballstriker in golf, he had never won a major. He had lost the Masters in a playoff to Byron Nelson in 1942. In the 1946 Masters, he came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to win. He landed his five iron approach shot to 2 and one half feet and proceeded to three putt his way out of the victory and playoff. Can you imagine how he would have been roasted by today's press? There would have been nothing left of the guy.
That's why Tiger's the greatest. No great golfer of the past had to endure anywhere close to the scrutiny he has. He came into the pro ranks with the highest possible hype and expectations and he delivered the goods immediately. No kicking around for a decade like Hogan and Bobby Jones before going on a one time streak of brilliance. That's the main reason he can only be compared to Jack. It's not because of the career stats - those can be argued by adjusting numbers put up by older figures. Only Tiger and Jack were on top wire to wire and only Tiger and Jack NEVER CHOKED.
Thoughts:
If Tiger wins either the AmEX or The Tour Championship we will then be calling 2006 his 'greatest year ever'
Discuss.
If they change the name of the sport tp "Tiger", I'm gonna take up tennis!
I'd have to say, yes, 2006 would be the best ever in that case. Winning fully half his starts, two majors, other big tourneys...
Something about those huge margins of victory in 2000, though!
Two come-from-behind wins in a row, for all those who complained after the PGA...
Tiger's very lucky Phil took the week off. No one can beat Phil when he's on.
LOL! Great Phil comment!
2006 review:
http://tinyurl.com/jf6g3
Event Results
Position Total Score Winnings
Buick Invitational 1 -10 $918,000
Dubai Desert Classic 1 -19 $396,404
Nissan Open Withdrawn +1 -
Ford Championship at Doral 1 -20 $990,000
Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard 20 -4 $59,583
THE PLAYERS Championship 22 +1 $76,800
Masters Tournament 3 -4 -
U.S. Open Cut +12 -
Cialis Western Open 2 -11 $440,000
135th Open Golf Championship 1 -18 -
Buick Open 1 -24 $864,000
PGA Championship 1 -18 -
WGC - Bridgestone Invitational 1 -10 $1,300,000
Deutsche Bank Championship 1 -16 $990,000
did anyone else notice vijay being disrepectful when tiger was putting it happend numerous times. tiger did not look to happy about it but played it off well
I saw what looked like Vijay making small talk with his caddy while Tiger was putting. If so, and I really don't know if he was or wasn't because I wasn't within earshot, then he's a huge jackass.
Vijay does not suck up to the church of Tiger like sports writers, commentators and bloggers, and that makes him a bad guy?? The gall of him!!
It would be nice if the networks assigned ONE (just one, that is not much)announcer to cover the rest of the field. That way it would not end up looking so foolish when the talking heads trip over themselves with another "Tiger first tied his golf shoes 20 years ago today" crap.
One tourney he got sick, one his Dad was very close to dying, one his Dad had just died. Take out those, and he is 8/11 for the year.
But yes, the last poster is right -- he gets way too much coverage. And Vijay should be allowed to talk while he is putting. Sure.
Yeah. The TV coverage was horrible. I can't believe I missed Zach Johnson 3 putting to finish 47th. Rats.
Pretty good, Joel!
Tiger only learned to tie his shoes when he was ten? I find that very hard to believe.
Remember he had glasses with lenses as thick as Coke bottles...maybe he couldn't see the laces.
Post a Comment
<< Home