Tiger Woods keeps win streak alive -- going undefeated in 2008 still a possibility
Forget about the New England Patriots going 19-0. The story of 2008 may be Tiger Woods going undefeated for the entire season. Tiger Woods kept his win streak alive today, by sinking a 25 footer on the final hole to win by one stroke over Bart Bryant at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The win means that Tiger has won every tournament this year he's played in and has a 7-win streak going back to the end of last season.
I have been ridiculed for suggesting at the beginning of 2008 that Tiger Woods could run the table and go undefeated this year. To me, the biggest hurdle was the Accenture Match Play, which is always a crap shoot -- but Tiger managed to escape elimination a couple times. But I still don't know why some people thought my suggestion was ridiculous. I admit that the odds are against it, but the way Tiger Woods is playing, I think he has a very realistic chance to win every tournament. The guy never misses a cut, and, if he's in contention, he usually wins. I would take Tiger against the field any day, especially now.
For video highlights, go here. You have to watch this amazing putt and Tiger fist pump! Awesome!
9 Comments:
"But I still don't know why some people thought my suggestion was ridiculous."
Mulligan, I always enjoy your posts. However, on this I have to say I think it's ridiculous, too. Why? It's March 16th. Get. Real.
My analogy for this would be the following scenario. Let's say the Patriots won their first two pre-season games. What would you think of someone who would predict they'll go undefeated in 2008 based on that information alone?
I'll start giving your prediction another thought if, IF Woods makes it through the US Open undefeated. Until then, it's simply not feasible.
You've got to remember, Tiger preps for Majors. He works on specific shots in some tournaments simply to be ready for the next Major around the corner. That fact alone makes it nearly out of the question to even consider.
How about some "baby steps" first? Why don't we talk about Woods' chances to win the calendar year Grand Slam, then worry about this preposterous undefeated stuff?
Add me to the ridiculous vote count.
What do you think Tigers chances are of winning a single tournament? 50%? 75%? 90%?
If you answered 50% then the odds of running off 15 straight wins is greater than 1 in 32,000. For 75% it is about 1 in 75, for 90% it is about 1 in 5. He would have to have a percent greater than 95% before his odds of winning 15 in a row are better than even money.
I have no idea how many he plans on playing this year and if in fact it is the best case scenario, the minimum, 15 events. Now he has 3 down so assuming the minimum, 15 events, 12 more in a row for 50%, 75% and 90% are still 1 in 4,000, 1 in 31 and 1 in 3.5.
Not good odds.
So what do the other commentators think the odds are for Tiger to win a single tourney? Right now, I say greater than 50% but less than 75%. It would be interesting to see what Vegas thinks.
Tiger Woods made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by a shot, extending his PGA Tour winning streak to five and keeping intact a perfect season in golf. It's been some time since anyone has challenged him like Bart Bryant did on Sunday. But nevertheless, Woods remains dominant and perfect in in over 6-months of world play. A near perfect round's only blemish was a three putt on the back-nine simply caused by a lack of concentration, in my opinion.
Early in the year, Tiger was asked what he thought his chances were to win the Grand Slam in 2008 and answered in the affirmative that the likelihood was strong. At the time, I felt as though he may have been overstepping bounds, even for someone with the ability of Woods. But now, only 3 1/2 months into the season, it's clear to see why he made such a claim.
My advice to all lovers of the PGA and history...don't miss a swing that Tiger takes this year. History will be made in 2008.
Doesn't the UK bet on anything and everything? Surely, one could bet on whether Woods will go undefeated or not over there somewhere.
This is really a silly, if fun, discussion. Can Tiger go undefeated? Sure. If the stars align, if Sam doesn't catch a cold, if he gets all the bounces. Can that be said of anyone else? Nope. I'd say he's 8 to 1 today.
I don't read every word he says in his press conferences, but as I recall, Tiger was asked if he could win every tournament he enters and he said that was his intention. I don't think he was asked what odds he would give for that occurrence, and if he was asked that, he'd mostly likely dance around the answer. He plans to win every tournament. It is not inconceivable that he could do it -- merely highly unlikely.
But here's the real power of the discussion: not "will he?" but "could he"? There is not another golfer alive you would discuss in that context. One factor that actually increases his (still tiny) odds of accomplishing this is that not only does he think he could do it, but his competitors aren't completely, 100% sure he can't. As he rises on the leaderboard, they're thinking, "Uh oh, here he comes." And that's a powerful advantage!
Good point Sheldon. I had a feeling last year he could make history this year.
Now consider this. If Woods is able to make history and complete the Grand Slam this year, he will actually win 5 majors in a row. A new Tiger Slam that makes the task this year even that much harder. Andrewsdad, what are the odd of that one, in your opinion?
This is really goofy to talk about since the Masters is still a few weeks away--I think this was Mulligan's "evil plan" to begin with--get the slam conversation started by slyly bringing up the undefeated angle.
Who the heck is Bart Bryant and what is he doing challenging Tiger? He's supposed to be cowering in fear, don't you know?
Bart illustrates why Tiger won't go undefeated. Someone, maybe someone you've heard of, maybe not, will shoot 64,65 on a weekend and beat Tiger by 2 and that'll be it.
In my best Ben Stein voice, "Mulligan...? Mulligan...? Mulligan...? Anyone? Anyone?"
;-)
Post a Comment
<< Home