One Guy's Viewpoint

Poor Tiger

I just finished watching a good bit of the British Open and now I really feel sorry for Tiger Woods. Poor Tiger needs a rival and he has none. It looks like he's doomed to go down in history bullying a bunch of second-raters.

Jack Nicholas had Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson. And not all that far behind were Seve Ballesteros and Billy Casper. And probably others, a very rich era.

Bobby Jones had Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Francis Ouimet.

Ben Hogan had Sam Sneed and Byron Nelson for starters.

Phil Mickelson looked like he had shaken off the old self-destructive Phil and only needed a par on the final hole of last year's U.S. Open to win his fourth major in three years. The guy ahead of him had double bogeyed to give him back the lead. Phil's play on that hole made me think I was watching the last hole of the movie Tin Cup again. The words of that old baseball manager came to mind who, referring to one of his pitchers, said, "The guy's got a million dollar arm and a ten cent head." Tiger was no doubt pulling hard for Phil. He needs him, or somebody.

The only two current players with the elan (or whatever) and fan appeal to become a real challenge for Tiger are Phil and Sergio Garcia. (Vijay. Who's he?) And today Sergio only meeded to par the eighteenth to win the British Open. The guy ahead of him had double bogeyed to give him back the lead... Well you know the result. Poor Tiger.

posted by Burt @ 5:38 PM