Tiger Woods has done something to himself that most professional golfers would love to struggle with -- he's created a Catch 22 with winning. See, before Tiger, we had a long stretch where guys would win a couple of times a year and be great. Tiger came along and made winning look so easy, everyone expects the guy to win every single tournament.
Saturday at the Masters, Tiger again struggled with his game, making a sloppy double-bogey on the first hole that had him playing from behind all day. He misses a putt and you catch yourself wondering what went wrong, forgetting that this is a game that isn't supposed to be mastered. It's golf. The game has made a lot of people break their putters over the years.
Woods made five birdies coupled with his double and a bogey on the 11th, making crucial birdie putts on 15 and 17 that had you thinking he might be roaring back. His gutsy par save on the last kept Woods in the top-10 with a third-round 70, but he is seven shots back of the leaders with only 18 short holes to go.
Fans of the game have two ways to go about Tiger's week. They can complain about Woods not having the best of weeks or they can appreciate how hard the guy works even when he doesn't bring his best.
This week at Augusta National, Tiger's game was, by his standards, a B-minus at best. He missed greens with wedges. He couldn't find the bottom of the cup from 10-feet. He bogeyed his last hole on both Thursday and Friday from the fairway. While others were taking advantage of mild conditions, Woods was yelling his name as shots missed that he normally sticks.
What did Tiger do? He kept trying. He kept fighting. He still has a very outside chance to make a run at this title. Just appreciate what we get to see. Winning a major championship is really, really tough. Maybe when thinking of Tiger, we should remember that.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-11-2009 @ 6:10PM
racasel said...
signon
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4-11-2009 @ 6:26PM
bfreeman22 said...
I LOVE Tiger Woods! There is no word to describe him. He is not only an amazingly talented golfer, but a very respectful man. He always carries himself with such grace and pride. He is a great role model for all young men, everywhere.
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4-11-2009 @ 7:10PM
samwise246 said...
bfreeman22, he carries himself with pride and grace, he is respectful, a great role model for young men everywhere? Are we talking about the same tiger? The man who has been known to send his caddie into the crowd to assault someone who dared take a picture of him? The man who is probably the most penalized golfer on tour(since the PGA does not release the records of the fines it charges, we can't know), because of the language he uses when he hits a bad shot, slinging "f" bombs all over the place, repeatedly? The man who will not sign autographs for children? Oh, yes, he is a great role model alright.
4-11-2009 @ 6:58PM
john said...
I for one am sick and freaking tired of hearing about tiger woods!!!!!!!!!!!!
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4-11-2009 @ 7:13PM
elpgolfer said...
if you are so sick and freaking tired of hearing about tiger, why are you even on this site? you must be a real genius.
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4-11-2009 @ 11:26PM
autumnwriter said...
Tiger is in 10th place. why is he the subject of the big story? there are three very good golfers either tied for the lead or one behind. Why not write about them? Tiger is a great golfer, but there is a lot of pandering going on. It has gotten to the point of being patronizing. Most people are tired of it. Why not cover the tournament and forget about being politically correct?
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4-11-2009 @ 7:25PM
elpgolfer said...
its amazing that it bugs people that there is a story about the #1 golfer on the planet. whether he is leading or in 10th place, some people just cant stand that he gets the attention. if you dont like it, then go play with your video games or try the tennis site. thats always the same old boring crap...ha ha ha ha
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4-11-2009 @ 7:37PM
Dennis May said...
You can all say what you want about Tiger but it all comes down to he is the best and he gives others a goal to reach for. He is one of the most focus athletes in history and he takes it all the way to the bank. You rock Tiger keep on puttin.
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4-11-2009 @ 7:42PM
jaker789 said...
elbgolfer, just wondering, who"s your favorite golfer??
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4-11-2009 @ 8:04PM
elpgolfer said...
jaker789, growing up in el paso, i was always a trevino fan. then for a while no one until tiger came along. reminded me of how exciting it was to watch the merry mex in his heyday. i didnt expect tiger to comeback in top form right away and even if he doesnt return to the top as he was before, i will be pulling for him. until someone more fun and exciting comes along.
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4-11-2009 @ 8:34PM
UKWILDCAT63 said...
Its so wonderful to be alive.....A majoy thing one seems to forget......63
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4-11-2009 @ 8:37PM
claytor said...
So lets get this straight, elpgolfer...
Because someone reads this article and says theyre sick of hearing tiger tiger tiger, you bash them and make childish insults about video games and tennis sites(tennis sites...what does that even mean???).
Are you tigers fanhouse p.r. guy or something?
As much as you like (obviously worship) el tigre, there are people who dont. I for one dont "pull" for any golfer, seeing as how the tournament itself is an interesting event to witness. People who cherish a singular golfer to extremes (this means you) rip the fun right out of the sport, as does a blog set in almost apologist tones for tigers performance (or lack thereof).
Lets face it, hes an amazing golfer, yes. Also not noted is his miraculous adding of 30 pounds (theres no crying, er steroids in golf!), his snobbish attitude towards practically every other golfer on the circuit, and through the two previous mentions how he conveniently comes off like he should just be handed trophies.
The guy is the Lance Armstrong of golf, and until he gets tested for roids? A possible sham.
Lets not forget, Bonds, McGwire and hosts of other steroids flunkies "practiced" a lot, too.
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4-11-2009 @ 9:08PM
elpgolfer said...
ok claytor, why is it ok for them to bash Tiger but not ok for me to bash them? and a p.r. guy or something? pleeease....and do you have any kind of proof that Tiger ever used steroids? or are you just making a baseless statement? i worked out hard and went from 150 to 185, all w/o the use of steroids. it took some time but it can be done. so unless you have positive proof, you might want to keep that to yourself
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4-12-2009 @ 8:28AM
claytor said...
You still dont get it, all they do is simply say they dislike tiger. Youre the one telling them to go elsewhere? Isnt that what youre saying to them? Dont like it, dont read it?
Well i hate to break it to you, but when we have a Masters this year that is VERY competitive, replete with numerous feel good tales of -GASP- OTHER GOLFERS, it gets a little old to hear about tiger this, tiger that, tiger something else, and yes i may not have proof, but noones really stepped up to the plate and asked him how he managed to pack on 20 plus pounds of muscle in a single dead season either. Until its inquired, we may not know.
Dont act like its baseless. Lenny Dykstra came to Phils camp having put on 30 pounds of muscle in an offseason, and people were like wow, now it turns out, his name is among the many abusing ped's, so there ya go. I dont find it odd at all to see a bunch of average joes playing against some dude who suddenly started looking jacked up as hell right before he started going on tourney winning sprees, and his already long drive became even longer.
This isnt about you, or your chump tactics, its about how Kenny Perry, a Ryder Cup mainstay is vying for his first Masters bid in a heated race with Angel Cabrera who won the U.S.Open, and is looking to add a green jacket to his collection, not to mention Furyk who simply wont go away with his tenacious play, and Campbell, playing out of his mind.
Yet we have 53 articles on...Tiger.
4-11-2009 @ 9:29PM
biggerfirehos said...
brobama will step in and woods will win
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4-12-2009 @ 12:14AM
RHR831 said...
Yes Tiger is a very talented golfer but ever since he got 6 men to move a boulder that he called a loose impediment in Arizona a few years ago I lost respect for him. His attitude towards oyher players also needs to be worked on.
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4-12-2009 @ 6:11AM
Roger said...
Why not cover the game and every player .Tiger is just one player of many so lets be fair to everybody....Unless others need the use of Roger Free which is being shut down an all web sites you hav e 24 hours....lol
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4-12-2009 @ 9:39AM
leewadams said...
Tiger is clearly the greatest player of golf of all time. His boorish on course conduct disqualifies him from being the greatest golfer. Maybe he will grow up someday and be both. When he stops throwing clubs, swearing, scowling, fist pumping, and acting like he is entitled to have every putt go in and every shot end up in perfect shape, then he will be on his way to being the greatest golfer.
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4-12-2009 @ 12:04PM
elpgolfer said...
so claytor, it sounds like you really hate tiger and all the articles written about him and anyone who happens to be a fan of his. that just about cover it?
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4-12-2009 @ 5:12PM
elpgolfer said...
woo hoo....how can you not like all this excitement? not many people in the gallery following perry and cabrera...any wonder why?
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