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It was one of the strangest weeks ever for Tiger Woods, a golfer we've known since 1996 as a top-10 machine. Sure, he'd win a ton of golf tournaments, but the most impressive thing about his game has always been his consistency near the top of leaderboards. If he wasn't winning, he was third or fourth, and if he played really bad, he'd find himself somewhere around 13th or 14th.
Not this week at the Bridgestone Invitational, or at any of his recent golf tournaments. After his round on Friday, when Tiger added a 2-over 72 to his first round 74 and we all realized he wouldn't be winning (or even competing) at Firestone, things turned mentally for Tiger. For the first time in the history of this man, he was giving up. That, of course, raises a question we should be addressing; as fans of this game, should we be mad at Tiger for not caring?
While I'd almost always sit on the side of "Yes, how could this man finally toss in the white flag when he always, always grinding out event after event," I'm not going to this week. I feel for Tiger. I understand the level of frustration he must be feeling with a game he used to play pretty well. I've been there before. Standing on the 11th or 12th hole just hoping you can make contact with the tee ball in a tournament you were hoping you'd have a chance at isn't much fun, and that is where Woods is. Tiger isn't giving up on us, or disrespecting golf, he just seems so put out with his own play that there isn't a way in the world he can figure it out.
Some people will yell at Tiger for some of the quick shots he played over the weekend, but I'm not blaming him. I'm not mad at him. If anything, I feel for the guy. All year we've been worried about his personal life and disappointed in the man he had become, but now it's just kinda pitiful.
The greatest athlete of our generation can't play the game that got him there. I don't know about you, but it isn't that exciting to see Tiger Woods, the 14-time major champion winner and chaser of all records possible, finishing a spot away from dead last. I liked it a lot better when we got to see that Sunday red for the entire telecast.
Associated Press
9 comments:
#81 in the world (who wasn't invited to the Bridgestone) should be mad at him.
When Tiger chose to make records in the bedroom, his golf began to suffer. He is now known as the man with the most mistresses during a marriage - 121. Loredana Jolie, the Las Vegas prostitute said he used to have sex with her from 9:00 pm until sunrise - another record for any man. We all have choices in life, and Tiger made his; now he's got to live with the consequences, like all other mortals.Why pity him? These are the results of HIS choices, not ours. Don't begrudge him.
You think Tiger didn't know a day of reckoning would come? He has children (we'll never know how many)that he supposedly teaches that actions have consequences. Well, that is what all caring parents do. Did Tiger ever help in any way in raising the children in the marital home? If so, he would know that ALL actions have consequences. I think Tiger Woods would make the worst parent ever on this earth.
What is the point in being mad at a professional athlete ? You either pull for him or pull for someone else...but being mad at them ?
Do you feel there is a backlash from people thinking that this is the real personality of Tiger, petulance when things aren't going right for him?
Previously, flashes of temper, bad language and thrown clubs were excused as a burning will to win but now it just looks pitiful as a truly great golfer's power is on the wane.
Tiger's complete out to sea at this point. No coach, no family, no fan support, no life. I think that he needs to go away for a good long while. He confidence is shot and I don't think he's going to play his way back into it. Tiger has a lot of big decisions ahead of him.
Why should I be mad at Tiger. He is one of the greartest golfers of all time. I'm not interested in his personal life. And I'm not interested in your personal life either.
Mad at Tiger? Tiger who?
Why be mad at Tiger? That is pretty ridiculous and shallow - to think that my enjoyment of golf ONLY revolves around seeing the best current golfer dominate the field. That if any other golfer successfully pulls off 'the same shot that Tiger would' it is boring, but if Tiger does it, it is wondrous.
I don't care if Tiger ever wins again, personally. If he doesn't care enough to try, that does nothing but prove to me that he was a manufactured golf machine and a fractured person all along.
Somebody needs to say it - Earl Woods was the stereotypical sports dad, who created a son who understands nothing about life while understanding nearly everything about golf. And that, folks is NOT how to be a father.
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