Even Tiger Woods, the man that tends to stay away from the hot button topics, spoke up this week at the AT&T National, the tournament Woods hosts, about Michael Jackson.As you now know, Jackson died on Thursday at the age of 50, leaving most Americans mourning the passing of a music legend. Tiger, who grew up listening to Jackson's music, said that he was one of the best entertainers of all time.
"I think everyone here was a Michael Jackson fan. One of, probably if not the greatest entertainer that's ever lived," Woods said. "I think -- I know my entire generation was influenced by his music, and you know, just the entertainer and just the songs, we listened to them -- whatever. It was always happy. You always wanted to listen to his songs.Tiger, who tends to rub elbows with artists like Hootie and the Blowfish, Stevie Wonder and Sting at his annual Tiger Jam, has always appreciated history, no matter the medium, and music seems to be no different.
"And his legacy is one as the greatest entertainer, one, I think that his draw, his appeal and his influence and all the artists following him. You watch these guys in how they pay attribute, how they perform, how they dance and how they sing, their mannerisms, look at Usher, Justin Timberlake, their moves, they're Michael's moves," Woods said.
At the press conference, MJ wasn't the only thing Tiger jammed about (See what I did there?). Woods spoke of the new groove policy,
I think it's great," Tiger said. "It'll be interesting seeing guys catching flyers and not being able to spin the ball back out of the rough. Their decision is how they play par-5s whether they will they try and drive drivable par 4s now. Short-siding yourself is obviously going to pay a little more of a price, and you know, how many more 64-degree wedges you're going to see with the balls being as firm as they are. Are guys going to start going to a spinner ball."That is obviously the big question now. In the past, guys could still yank the ball back on the greens with a harder ball like, for instance, the Pro V1x, but might have to switch to the softer Pro V1 in the future if they can't do what they used to do with the deeper grooves.
From grooves, Woods went to his pro-am partner, a man by the name of Tony Romo. The Cowboys starting quarterback and beau of Jessica Simpson has always been one to enjoy the occasional golf round, and Tiger sees this with Romo.
"He is a big golf nut and loves to play golf and has tried qualifier for U. S. Opens before and loves to play and understands how to play, and I've always wanted to play with him, and he accepted our invitation to come out and play, which is awfully nice of him, and it's just going to be a fun round, but also an interesting one. Granted, he's used to getting booed, and it is what it is. It comes with being, I guess team sport, away from home."Romo and Woods will be teeing it up together on Wednesday at Congressional, with Woods trying to win his own tournament for the first time since it started in 2007.
