Apparently, the Doral Event was Worried Tiger Wouldn't Enter
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 9, 2009 4:29 PM EDT
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PrintEarlier in the day, we wondered why the media was so up in arms about Tiger's late entry into the CA Championship - just hours before the entry deadline. Apparently, the CA Championship needed to be assured that Tiger would submit the entry form. Geoff Shackelford points to Hank Gola's piece in the NY Daily News:
It was getting late Thursday afternoon at the headquarters of the CA Championship at Doral, and Tournament Director Eddie Carbone and his staff were getting anxious. Every 15 minutes, someone would check Tiger Woods' Web site and scroll down to "Next Event."
The answer was the same into Friday: TBA.
"We figured it out," Carbone said after Woods finally committed, three hours before the 5 p.m. Friday deadline. "We personally put 136,000 and change hits on the Tiger Woods Foundation Web site."
That is pathetic. No two ways about it. Pathetic. 136,000?
Among the things that anyone knows about Tiger Woods:
- He wins a lot
- He plays the same places because he wins there a lot
Doral is no exception. He's won there three times and the namesake event six times around the world.
But, I think I'm seeing the real issue in all of this. It's not that Tiger enters at the last minute despite the fact that everyone knows he's going to play and that his schedule almost never changes.
It's that Tiger isn't playing more often despite Commissioner Finchem's plea to the players to do so despite the fact that no one is actually playing more than they were last year.
It is that Tiger said that he couldn't do more than he already is for the sponsors than he is now, so that entering the CA Championship at the last minute hurts the sponsors.
Personally, I don't think Tiger has to answer to those charges. Woods is golf in the eyes of the business world. By the ratings on TV, we can see that's how the sporting public feels about him, too. A lot of the pro game revolves around how the Tour, the media, and all things pro golf rely on Woods for stories, fodder, and the like. Without him, golf is a different sport to the economic engine that fuels and is fueled by him.
When Tiger doesn't play more, coming off of serious knee surgery in the midst of a generational recession, then Woods is part of the problem. Woods isn't doing enough for the sponsors.
In a lot of ways, though, the game is doing a disservice to itself more than Woods is to the Tour by entering on the deadline. The Tour has relied on Woods for so long that it is difficult to exist from out under his shadow. The Tour's TV contracts have fortunately been negotiated around times when Woods was at his best or more dynamic - 1997, 2001, 2006. I won't discount the work that the Tour did to make those things happen, but they won't discount how big of a role Tiger played either. And you can't blame the Tour for riding that wave, either.
Most normal sports fans can't name and don't care to name golfers other than Tiger and Phil. It's lousy, but true. Part of that is that no golfer - aside from Vijay Singh & Phil - has been remotely close to the level of success and relative success that these two have had in the last dozen years. Or, if they were successful, it didn't last. With no real long term series of challengers, the Tour has had to rely on these players as their consistent faces.
Golf isn't like team sports where the names on the jerseys only matter to an extent. It is the team that lives, changes, and survives. The players provide us with great memories, but the team moves on if a player retires, is traded, etc. In golf, that doesn't happen. Yeah, the Tour still exists, but that's like saying the NBA is still around once Kobe retires. A sports league needs a reason for someone to have allegiance. Team sports have local ties. Golf doesn't have that luxury.
So, it has to rely on individuals. Golf relies more on one individual than any of the other sports combined. Federer has Nadal. (Or the other way around these days.) Kobe has LeBron. Tiger has...himself and history - two intangible enemies.
No wonder the sport is so desperate to see more of him. He is the beginning and the end of every golf story.
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Tiger is Golf today
What he has done for the sport is beyond what many of us could ask for. Most people watch our sport today because of one man, Tiger Woods. Whichever tournament it is that he is competing in, he WILL be followed. Ten under or eight over, the man is going to be covered.
For a time though Ryan, Tiger did have Phil Mickelson. That was the only guy that we could realistically see knocking off Tiger if it came down to a 1 on 1 match-up. God, I loved those battles, as I am sure most of you did to.
I think it is smart for Tiger to play in his own selection of tournaments, especially now with the knee issues. He knows the course, he has won this event, like you said 3 times, and I think it is an overall smart move for him.
I really like this quote you said,
Team sports have local ties. Golf doesn’t have that luxury.
I think this is mainly because of the individuality that Golf represents. Its a game of you against yourself. The only person that is going to be attached to your own beliefs is usually going to only be yourself.
Even though I stated that Tiger had Phil, this situation can relate to what you said that the success did not last. And this was mainly on Phil’s part, because Tiger is the best, hands down, whether winning or losing. I like to look at golf with a quote that I have always lived by that my grand father taught me.
Golf is not about how good someone is, it is about how consistent that someone is.
And so far since Tiger has graced us with his god-like swing, he has been the most consistent and dominating golfer.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Some very good points here. At different points, Tiger had different enemies – Phil, Vijay, the Big 3, the Big 5, Vijay again, now Paddy. None, except Phil and Vijay really stuck around long (or haven’t had a chance to prove it yet). Woods’ consistency is a curse for the game in a sense because there’s no point in comparing him to other players.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 9, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
They're lucky it's Tiger...
…if I were the one in his position – I’m not sure I wouldn’t just tell all these media and business whiners the bird and tell them adios. Tiger is set financially for generations to come.
I don’t care that he isn’t playing more – especially right now. HE JUST HAD RECONSTRUCTIVE KNEE SURGERY !!! I’m still in the minotiry that thinks he isn’t healed yet. He just isn’t ready to play a full schedule and he isn’t up to jet setting around the country just to please a few sponsors. Get off the guy’s back – he has been carrying you for 12 years now – let him get healthy.
This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket. Tiger got hurt – and he’s not going to change his winning formula for you or anyone else. He’s chasing Nicklaus and that major’s record. If the Tour breaks down and offers him anything he wants – they will be digging their grave even further. Suck it up – lower the tournament costs for the sponsors and let Tiger be Tiger. He doesn’t owe you anything more than he already gives.
Just a note – I have to disagree with MaLoR on his “Tiger had Phil” statement. The only thing Phil has ever been a challenge for Tiger at was endorsements. This mythical rivalry between the two has been more of a media creation than actual fact. The only time you see them playing together is the artificial pairing for the first two rounds. He has nothing for Tiger – he can’t even play WITH Tiger. Paired together in the Ryder Cup, the first thing Phil did was put Tiger up against a bush lined fence. Thanks Phil. What SHOULD be a great rivalry has never materialized because Tiger is so much stronger mentally than Phil.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I see where you are coming from
I was just trying to create some sort of competition for Tiger. I agree with you that the media did blow up that so called “rivalry” but at the time and maybe still today, those 2 are the best all around golfers in the sport when playing to their full ability. I just think it was a good rivalry for golf to think it had.
It is such a soft spoken and respected game that you do not necessarily see that fierce battle between two players. It brought some excitement back to Golf since the Jack, Arnie, Player, Watson days.
Look at it this way. We can say that Jack made the game what it is today because of his ability to oust nearly every other golfer in the field. But Arnie made the game popular at the time because of his longer stint on the tour and dominating play style. When Jack won the 1966 Masters, his first major, over Arnie, that kind of sparked that hidden rivalry, which made the game more enjoyable to watch.
People who were not as familiar at golf as the ones who were above average at it or even didn’t play the sport, had that interest in what Jack and Arnie were gonna do when playing in the same tournament. I think that the Tiger vs Phil scenario was as close at people got to that historic rivalry in the past. The avid sports fans and the few who respect the game of golf, like we do, cannot admit that they were not excited when Tiger and Phil were close to each other near the top of the leader boards.
It is OK to disagree, that is what these blogs are for. I think that the supposed rivalry made up between Tiger and Phil is/was great for the sport. It brought more attention and more excitement to see how those two were going to play from Thursday to Sunday. But then again, your own worst enemy in Golf is and will always be yourself. AND THE GOD DAMN CLUBS OF COURSE!!
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
that's the problem...
…the media tried to do the same thing instead of waiting to see what happened – and every time they cranked up the hype, they fell flat on their faces. You’d think these media wonks would learn their lesson after a while – but that’s just not the case.
You’re right that they are the two most talented players out there – but it’s what’s between their ears that makes the difference. A lot of guys on Tour admitted that the most physically gifted player on tour until the last few years was John Daly. Nobody hit it further and had his feathery touch around the green – but it was between the ears…ok…and at the bar…where he fell short.
You’re right about Jack and Arnie for the most part – but Arnold Palmer was a warrior. He went out to win – and he won a lot. Palmer was always the stylish guy with a lot of flair. Nicklaus was “the fat kid” even after he lost the weight and got a haircut. Phil still gets a win or two a year – but he wins when his talents just happen to fall into gear. Tiger wins because he refuses to lose.
Rivalries ARE great – and necessary for sports, but when you have to make them up, people catch on and eventually see it for what it is – in this case – complete domination by Tiger Woods. Tiger’s real rivals are going to be coming along in the next few years in guys like Anthony Kim, Rory McIllroy, maybe Camillo Villegas now and then…
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Camillo is my boy
Love the work ethic from him and he is a Florida Gator, gotta love those golfers who played in Gainesville. I was unaware that people thought that way about Daly, cause he is far from the most physically gifted golfer out there, even at that time. And yes, Golf is all about how you can balance your ego, self-confidence, and emotions all at the same time. There is no such thing as a perfect round of golf. Never has and never will be until someone shoots an 18. It is a matter of how calm and collected you can keep yourself, and you are 100% right, no one does that better then Tiger.
But I also have to say that even though Tiger does have the most stable mind on tour, he is also the best athlete on tour. I had to privilege of seeing him play at Congressional in Bethesda, MD, and physically, the man is a freak of nature. At 6’1" and around 190 pounds, the man is enormous. His arms and shoulders are up there in the linebacker status of NFL players. I have been to a very good amount of professional, senior, and amateur events and still to this day I have never seen anyone fire their hips on their downswing with more power and control. All while doing it with the most graceful and effortless swing you could imagine.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
not "is"
Daly USED to be the most physically gifted guy on Tour. He was miles longer than anyone and could hit the most delicate shots you could imagine – with that full swing of his. He was incredible. Unfortunately, being an alcoholic by the age of 9 took its toll and he never had the mental toughness and discipline to be as great as he could have been. Unfortunately, people mostly remember his drinking binges and marital problems.
Remember – physically talented doesn’t necessarily mean you are in the best physical condition. Physically talented refers to your pure abilities. Tiger and Villegas are physical specimines – refering to their conditioning and strength.
Are you old enough to rememer William “The Refrigerator” Perry ? Lineman for the Bears. When he was in college at Clemson, he was looked at as one of the most physically talented guys because of all the things he could do. The DIVING coach at Clemson always said that he wished that Perry wasn’t such a huge football player because he was talented enough to be on the diving team – at 6’5" 300+ pounds.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Before my time, only 20 years old.
But I know my FAIR SHARE of football and have heard and seen that Fridge was like a ballerina out there sometimes.
One thing that has bugged me of this type of argument when talking about how athleticism can impact golf is that a lot of people out there say that most of these golfers are “Out of shape, old guys.” No offense to anyone, that is true with a few of today’s players, but it is also not a sport that necessarily requires the most athleticism.
Anyway, the argument that a lot of people have made with me is that today’s stand out golfers are mostly in their current position because of their upbringings as adolescents. A lot of people believe that these golfers were just privileged enough to come from very wealthy families who could afford the clubs, lessons, and greens fees. These people believe that if the best athletes in the world decided to strive towards turning pro in this sport, that we would not see many of these pros we have today.
I strongly disagree with this statement because these are the ones who do not understand that this may be the most mentally tough sport out there. Athleticism is definitely not everything in sports, and especially in many of the cases on the PGA.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Athleticism definitely matters, but being in shape doesn’t necessarily matter all that much. There’s a big difference for sure. Athleticism can help for sure, but technique is a big deal.
The young guys that are successful today are a product of some money, some great training, and many more opportunities to get in great competition thanks to junior tours, etc.
by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 9, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions
just to prove your point...
…tune into xxx Golf Channel at 9:00 on Monday night. Charles Barkley is one of the greastest pure athletes of the last 20 years. A 6’4" power forward nicknamed “the Round Mound of Rebound” ? Come one – it can’t be. But he was one of the all time greats of basketball.
Now take a look at what swinging a golf club does to him.
I’ve heard that playing golf well is the second hardest thing to do in sports – behind hitting a curveball in baseball. Making contact with a golfball on a tee is one thing – controlling where it goes is something completely different.
Mal – next time someone brings up rich guys playing golf – remind them of names like Hogan, and this kid named Woods. Tiger didn’t grow up as a child of priviledge. His father was a humble man who taught his kid to play at home and at public courses. He was invited to play the “expensive” courses as his talent grew.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Thank you
And I completely forgot about the notorious and one of a kind Charles Barkley golf swing. Man, that is a work of art right there to be able to do things with a club like that.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I got to watch the show.
And am still trying to figure out how you can swing a golf club like that. I just do not understand why he stops in his down swing?!? What the hell is that. And I am surprised he even gets as much power as he does WHEN he makes decent contact with the ball.
Most horrendous golf swing I have ever seen.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
the thing to remember...
…is that it is not intentional. He didn’t learn or develop that swing on purpose. Barkley used to be a 10-12 handicap player with a decent swing – then he started playing celebrity events and his nerves started getting the best of him and what Haney is trying to fix is what happened to his swing.
I keep wondering if anybody has tried to get him to switch to playing lefty.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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