IS RACE A ISSUE?

Roy Mcllroy shot an amazing -16 to win the US Opened.  He played unbelievable golf for four straight day, and he completely blew the field away.  He definitely deserves all the praise he is getting right now because he was awesome last week.  But, to me, it seems like everyone in the golf world wants to totally erase Tiger from their memory banks.  I mean, yeah, Tiger has had a rough last couple of years.  His game has been up and down, mostly down, and he is has been struggling with injury every step of the way.  But you can't erase everything he has accomplished up until now.  It just seems like there is a race issue for some folks when it comes to Mcllroy and Woods.  People want to see him play well, they want to see him win majors, and the want him at the top of golf.  Why? I mean if your American, you are going to root against him in the Rider Cup anyway.  I truly believe that some people out there are happy that Tiger has fell from grace, and I think someone like Roy Mcllroy being at the top of gold makes them feel relieved.  How can you compare the two, honestly?  Tiger's professional resume is a mile long with nothing but wins.  Fourteen major tournament wins, he has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer, the youngest player to win a Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour.  Roy has two wins and of those two he has one major.  Now does that sound like a fare comparison for both golfers.  I think some people want to see a white golfer at the top of golf.  They enjoy having a white face as the poster boy for the sport of golf.  To some it is like taking back the sport that is already predominantly white anyway.  Is race a issue?  I think for some it is, but most people realize that Tiger Woods is the best golfer to every play the sport just based on what he has done thus far, and believe me, he is not done yet.  Tiger Woods will be back at the top of golf, trust me, he will climb back to that top spot.  Everyone who enjoyed his fall will be sick to their stomachs to see him claw his way back to the top of golf.

WOW!

I don't care if you are not a Tiger Woods fan.  It does not matter what you think about him personally.  If you saw what he did in the second round of the Masters today, for about seven holes straight, you were probably saying, "Good shot Tiger!"  If you thought he was finished, washed up, past his prime, you are about to witness the rebirth of a champion.  It does not matter if Tiger wins the Masters because now you know he is capable.  All you doubters who spend your time bashing Tiger Woods for his conduct off the golf course are sick right now.  He is divorce now and he probably has more women then you can imagine right now, but he has found some game and is playing with confidence.  He has got his focus back again, and that makes him the most dangerous golfer in the game, again.  I know, I know, " He hasn't won yet."  I think the haters need to worry about the fact that he has not lost yet.  I'm not saying he is going to win every tournament, but I am saying, look out because Tiger Woods is not done yet.  Oh yeah, get ready to put Tiger back at the top of golf.  Something you probably didn't know. If Tiger does win the Masters for the 5th time, golf courses will be full around the country, golf club sells will go up, golf gear will sell like hot cakes, and every major golf tournament Tiger is in will sell out.  The man is golf.  I know you haters can't stand that, but I wasn't real found of Larry Bird either.  That didn't stop him from winning four NBA championship, making the Hall of Fame, and being considered one of the 50 greatest players to ever play the game. Mr. Woods is back!

TRAPPED IN HIS OWN GREATNESS

I contributed Tiger's lack of success recently to two things. The first, of course, is the sex scandal and HIS  inevitable divorce.  Divorce is always ugly for anyone. For a person like Tiger I can imagine it being ten times worse.  Emotionally he was drained from the court hearings.  He lost a lot of endorsement deals that made him a great deal of money every year. Nike, on the other hand, decided to stick by Tiger because they know the value of Tiger Woods.  They also have faith that he will be back at the top of golf. What with custody battles for his kids, alimony, palimony, child support, the house, the cars, everything that goes along with divorce, it is a wonder Tiger even chose to swing a club last year. The second is the changes he is making in his golf game. Lets face it, the golf swing is the single most important part of being a golfer. If he was a basketball player that was in a shooting slump, we as fans would say drive the ball to the hole. But in golf, the swing is the foundation and without a consistent swing any golfer is going to struggle. He also has a new swing coach, so there is another transition that he must go through.  These changes are necessary for Tiger to take his game to the next level.  The swing he had a 25 is not going to work at 35, not Tigers' swing.  Tiger has or had a very aggressive swing that required him to twist and stretch his body considerable in order for him to be able to hit the ball with such force and accuracy. Now, a knee surgery, back spasms, and shoulder problems later, he is developing a more affective swing that does not require the aggressive body movements much like a Fred Couples or Tom Leahman, who are still affective now in the later half of their pro careers playing on the PGA and Champions Tours.  So, understand that Mr. Woods has had some major set backs to over come, but he is more than capable of making back to the top of golf.  He just needs time to bounce back from his divorce and his personal situation as a whole. All the while he will be learning and getting comfortable with his new swing which means Tiger will be playing a lot of golf this year on and off camera.  It won't be long before you see Tiger Woods at the top of the leader board on Sunday several strokes ahead of the competition.  He just needs time. Remember, TIGER IS GOLF!

Game ON!

I'm a golfer.  In the summer time I go out and smack the ole white ball around for 18 holes, then I come home and complain to my wife about how bad I suck.  I want to get better, but I just don't have the time that it takes to be a scratch golfer.  One thing keeps me going.  One thing makes me believe that I can play better, and only one thing keeps me going back to the golf course in the summer, Tiger Woods.  Sure he came up short is his last tournament, sure he didn't play well all last season, but Tiger is still Tiger and I believe he will prove that this season.  The field is deeper than it has been in a long time.  There are some new stars on tour now and they say Tiger is trying to step up to the new competition.  I don't think they are better golfers, and I certainly don't believe that Tiger has fallen off.  With the sex scandal, the divorce, and all the negative press, he probably should have never pick up a club last year.  Any one could see that he was distracted by his situation, and his lack of usual practice time showed at times.  He still managed to stay #1 the majority of the year, he missed on cut which is unheard of for most pro golfers, and he is still at the top of the money list because the name Tiger Woods is golf.  This blog is called, Tiger Watch, because I have been watching him since he broke on the scene in the 90's.  He is the only reason I picked up a golf club in the first place and his play inspires me to play.  So lets get this straight Tiger haters, Tiger Woods is the best in the game and he will prove it this season, watch!