It is really hard for Tiger Woods to do anything without garnishing the utmost attention. Anything he does off the course is newsworthy and we treat it like a presidential move. What is so interesting about this week at the Players Championship is Tiger is doing what made him famous, only we're too busy complaining about all that he is doing wrong and not focusing on what he's doing right.On Saturday at TPC Sawgrass, Woods had a camera on his every swing, and while critics were complaining about his driver (Guilty party number one -- I actually tweeted during his round, "When was the last time Tiger didn't block a tee shot right, the Mike Douglas Show?"), we were forgetting to pay attention to the more important thing ... his golf.
Tiger made birdies on 16 and 17 to post 6-under and allow the rest of the field to come back to him. Starting the day seven shots back of the leaders, Tiger's 2-under round of 70 was capped off by a fairly lucky second shot on the 18th hole that bounced and bumped it's way through the trees and rough to within just inches of going in the water, leaving Woods a lot of green to work with and a fairly routine up-and-down for par.
Say what you want about Tiger losing the ability to traumatize the field with just the mention of his name on the leaderboard, but Woods finished his round and a lot of guys didn't. Retief Goosen had a chance to finish at 7-under but bogeyed the 18th hole. Kevin Na was at 8-under for the tournament before suffering consecutive bogeys on 10 and 11 and making a mess of the 13th, leading to a triple-bogey. Ian Poulter was in the last group of the day but has failed to make a birdie so far on Saturday.
We spend so much time critiquing Woods, we forget exactly how good he is at some things. My dad used to say this when Tiger was struggling with his driver, and I think it is pertinent now. If you put any other golfer on tour in the positions off the tee that Tiger routinely finds himself, and they wouldn't make a single cut. His ability to scramble is on par with Seve Ballesteros, and his touch around the green is a once-in-a-generation talent.
Tiger might not win this thing on Sunday, but I guarantee it'll be interesting to watch.
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)
David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images
Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )
Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images
A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)
Lucas Jackson, Reuters
Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)
Ray Stubblebine, Reuters
Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)
Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP
West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)
Don Wright, AP
Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)
Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT
David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)
Al Bello, Getty Images
Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.
Darryl Graham, AP
Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.
Petr Josek, Reuters
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-09-2009 @ 8:39PM
hobbsoldbg65 said...
Never count Tiger out.Now there is a sponsors delight, Tiger in the last group at the final round.I can't wait to see Cejka choke like a dog.Tiger rules.
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5-09-2009 @ 10:10PM
Sieben said...
Good Luck TIGER slow and steady
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 8:44AM
webda said...
Cejka has a 5 stroke lead....probably the most consistant swing of anyone out there, for hitting the fairway. All he has to do is play par golf....no way is Tiger playing 6 under golf in this tournament....he's too erratic....and being in the last group, he will be facing those dried out, hard greens....
So, can Cejka block out the huge crowds that will follow Tiger? Can he block out the fact that every one there will be pulling for Tiger, and hoping he fails? If he can play within his game, he wins.....if he lets the crowd get to him, it will be a long afternoon for him....
If Tiger pulls this one out, the rest of those golfers out there, will have pulled the biggest choke on tour, no matter what Cejka does, or doesn't do.....
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5-10-2009 @ 3:15PM
bob said...
I'm sick of Tiger. There are other golfers out there that I want to see like Bubba Watson and Phil Michelson. Tiger is a bad sport and I'm tired of his antics. He screams at fans, he throws clubs, he swears and he spits. He has no class.
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