Did you hear the latest?!? Tiger Woods cheated on his wife! No seriously, I heard him admit it last Friday… Okay sports and golf fans, yes, Tiger admitted to making a mistake, that he cheated and that he is sorry. All better now???
I am shocked and apalled at how many people thought Tiger Woods owed them an apology. What a waste of time the press has spent since Thanksgiving trying to get a scoop. Did Tiger give any juicy details or innuendo that the tabloid hawks wanted? No, of course not. He apologized (hopefully sincerely, it seemed to be so, but we’ll see…) to his wife and his sponsors for letting her down and losing them sales. That’s it; it’s over, it’s done. Finally, I hope.
How many times was the thirteen minute apology played and replayed this weekend? And all the talking heads analyzing whether he was robotic, or sincere or complaining a camera malfunctioned. Man, cut the guy a break! His marriage is on the rocks, he is separated from his kids and people want to nitpick his presentation skills. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone what he did. He’s paying a steep price and deserves it, but that’s between him and his family.
The only person Tiger has to answer to is Elin and unfortunately for him, she wasn’t there. A telling point, don’t you think? Did you really expect her to be? You’ll have a hard time convincing me (and definitely her) that Tiger actually loves and respects his wife after having over a dozen flings some lasting over three years. So Tiger, you blew it! You got caught and now pay the price like every other human being. So man up, move on and forget about her. Time to pick up the sticks and get ready for the Masters. As you, of course, found out on your yacht, there are other fish in the sea… Hope you do better the next round…
As the news broke that Tiger Woods missed the cut in this year’s Open Championship, I couldn’t help but compare where Lefty stacks up to Woods today. This is an interesting comparison since Woods has not returned to his top form since knee surgery last year and Mickelson continues to improve his game since the disappointment at Winged Foot in 2006.
Phil Mickelson has to be the most exasperating golfer alive. My frequent comment to friends is “that Mickelson is the greatest no pressure golfer ever.” When he was behind at The Masters earlier this year he made a super charge playing the front nine in an incredible 30 strokes to surge into contention and as soon as he smelled the lead, he missed a couple of makeable putts and dropped back. Same thing with the US Open at Winged Foot a few years back. And over and over again… Mickelson is an incredible talent, until he really has to play, then who knows what may happen. He has a one US Open lead on Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Where is he ahead of this who’s who of golf legends? Second place finishes, where he stands alone with five and no US Open wins to his credit. 
Recognize the guy on the right? Before yesterday, he had not won a golf tournament in 286 days, the longest drought in his career. Of course, as the NBC commentators kept repeating that fact over and over again, they did occasionally remark that, oh yeah, and he had major knee surgery ten months ago… For those who wondered how Tiger Woods would do in his return to the PGA tour, it took him all of three tournaments to get back in the winners circle. And with the Masters on the horizon, one wonders how long it is until he wins his 15th Major tournament? One thing for sure, the television executives are thrilled he’s back! Were you doing anything else but watching Tiger knocking down a 15 foot putt as the sun set a little after 7:30 PM in Orlando? March Madness? Nascar? Everything took a back seat to Tiger being on the prowl again. His victim this time was Sean O’hair who came into Sunday with a 5 stroke lead, only to watch another Sunday charge filled with dramatic shots and magical putts. And in the end, O’hair could only watch, like so many others before him. Was there any doubt Tiger would drain the putt on 18, just like he did at last years Bay Hill? Or last years US Open? Arnie was just waiting to thank Tiger for again making his tournament a thrillling moment in time and one watched by more viewers than the last two Majors of 2008 after Woods went out for his surgery. Yes folks he’s back; and with apologies to Padraig and Lefty, Sergio and Geoff, he makes golf and the PGA, relevant again.
pace. After the round, Tiger stated “I just need to get a little sharper.” This comment is a close cousin to his other favorite quip “I’m close.” I know Tiger believes it and I can understand why the media and all his fans believe it, because Tiger is known for the unbelievable. This time, his quips are only a façade to appease his fans, the media and to give Tim Fincham and the PGA Tour a needed boost in the ratings.
