THIS IS TOO EASY

In the week leading up to The US Open, I listened to countless “experts” talk about Tiger Woods’ chances in the tournament. Outside of ESPN’s Andy North, I did not hear one analyst, TV host, or radio host give Tiger any chance of winning. There were even those who suggested that he wouldn’t even make the cut. On the surface, it looked as though they had logical reasons for those opinions. Tiger had not played since the Masters and he was also coming off arthroscopic knee surgery. But there was one flaw in their logic, HE IS TIGER WOODS!!!! and they should know better than anyone that YOU NEVER DOUBT TIGER WOODS!!!!

Going into the tournament, everyone knew that Tiger would be playing through some pain, but no one knew the extent of the injury. As it turns out, he played with a torn ACL and double stress fractures in his left leg. As a matter of fact he is scheduled to have season-ending surgery very soon. Even with all of that going against him, HE STILL WON!!!! The US Open. He can honestly say to any golfer on tour, “I am so much better than you, that I can beat you on one leg.” This was his 14th career win in a major championship (the record is 18).

Tiger Woods is the most dominant “athlete” in the world. The gap between him and the second best golfer in the world is so wide, that no one even knows who the second best golfer in the world is. Even the second best golfer in the world doesn’t know that he is the second best golfer in the world because his self-esteem is crushed by Tiger on a weekly basis. (Can someone please tell me who the second best golfer in the world is?) Due in large part to his injuries, it took Tiger 91 holes to win The US Open (72 regulation holes, 18 playoff holes, and 1 sudden death hole). He also had a competitor neck and neck with him the entire way. His competition was none other than the GREAT ROCCO MEDIATE. If you weren’t familiar with Rocco before last week, you are not alone. He wasn’t even familiar with himself two weeks ago. Seeing Rocco battle Tiger, made me wonder what happened to the guys who are supposed to be Tiger’s main competition. You know, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Sergio Garcia. In other words the imaginary competition created by the media in hopes of adding drama to the telecasts. You would think that one of them would have been good enough to compete with a one-legged Woods.

I know that everyone at the networks that broadcast golf tournaments would love for Tiger to have a rival. Rivalries make for great television. Magic Johnson had Larry Bird, Peyton Manning has Tom Brady, Pete Sampras had Andre Agassi, and Dan O’Brien had Dave Johnson (sorry bad example, they both bombed at the’92 Olympics). If Tiger had a rival, the television ratings for PGA Tour events would skyrocket. Instead they will plummet without him for the rest of season (I know I won’t be watching). Let’s face it, Tiger Woods is like Michael Jordan. HE HAS NO COMPETITION. Like Jordan he has to compete with himself and the record books just to remain interested. It must be frustrating to be a professional golfer and know that each week when you tee up, you are simply playing for second place, or the right to be the first loser. The money’s great, but the abuse that your pride and ego take from all of the losing has to take its toll. No matter how hard you work, you won’t come close to Tiger Woods. This game is just too easy for him.