Entries Tagged as 'Tiger Woods'
Don’t Rush Tiger
By now you have all seen Tiger’s public statement and you have likely read and heard most of main-stream media’s comments and predictions about what is next and ”best” for Tiger. If you are an ESPN fan, you may have witnessed Woody Paige’s (panelist on Around The Horn) idiotic claim that Tiger must and will return for the Masters, that Tiger “owes” it to the PGA Tour to return to golf. Fellow pro golfer Ernie Els stated that Tiger was “selfish” to make his public statement during the Accenture Match Play event (although I think he later retracted his selfish statement). In short, those who really care about Tiger getting his personal life in order know that it will likely take an extended period of time.
If you have been following us here at Golf is Hard TV, you know that we are among the biggest Tiger fans. Nothing would be better than to see Tiger come back and play again, because quite frankly, my interest in watching golf has greatly diminished. I tune in occasionally to check the leaderboard, hoping maybe there is an interesting dual happening (like Casey and Poulter….ugh!), or maybe trying to catch local (Worcester, MA) golf hero Fran Quinn on the leaderboard (talk about a great golf story, a future blog topic). I have more interest in watching Freddy dominate the Champions Tour and would rather see Michele Wie play (prediction, she wins three times this year). There is just no spark on the Tour these days! I was, however, impressed by Camilo’s maturity and confidence during his post 3rd-round interview at this week’s Honda. Would love to see him win a few.
Back to Tiger, yes we want and need him back playing golf. I agree that he has a finite number of Majors left and that he has an excellent shot to notch a couple more this year given the venues. However, he has to focus on getting his life in order first, and based on his public statement he is planning on trying to do so. It will be a task more monumental that winning a major, more difficult than anything he has ever accomplished on the golf course. It would be easy for him to come out and hide inside the ropes but it likely wouldn’t help his personal life. He needs to prove to Elin that he messed up and is truly sorry. Will she ever forgive him? Will she stay? You will have to pick up a People to find that answer. Tiger is dedicated to trying and if you heard what he said, it will take time…and lots of it. It wouldn’t be shocking if he took the entire year off. If he really wants to try and get things right at home, he may need to.
In the meantime, Tiger misses a few majors, PGA Tour ratings tank and his sponsors drop him (most already have). With hundreds-of-millions banked, he doesn’t care and he does not need the money. Tiger will take his time and we fans will get a lot more done around the house since we won’t be watching much golf. When he comes back, it will be with a whole new set of sponsors and ratings will be the highest ever. Another year of golf without Tiger…hard to imagine.
Go Freddy, Michele and Fran!
I Knew He’d Make That Putt
Have you stumbled onto this amazing essay/article by Joe Posnanski “The Meaning of Tiger Woods?“
It’s a wonderfully written article with some great insights and questions about the greatest golfer ever.
I love this Rocco quote in particular:
“I knew he’d make it,” Mediate shouted when Tiger made it. We all knew. Anyone could make that putt with the right read, a good stroke and a touch of providence. I’d even say that most excellent pros could make that putt in that moment, under that pressure, with a throbbing knee and a U.S. Open at stake. But only Tiger would make it. Maybe that’s the difference with Tiger, the difference between could and would.
What’s compelling about this essay is that Joe exposes us to the fact that we really don’t know Tiger at all… in a supposed age of transparency, Tiger’s true self is shielded from us in subtle but important ways.
Joe points out a few terrific stories including this one about MJ that I absolutely love…
I know a pretty telling story about Michael Jordan. It seems that he was practicing before a game, and arena people were going through all the scoreboard games to make sure they worked. “Hey,” Michael yelled out. “Who wins the dot game tonight?” They told him … say it was blue. That night, during a timeout, the dot game began. Jordan turned to Scottie Pippen: “Hey, bet you a thousand dollars blue wins.” Something about that gets me closer to Michael Jordan, his hunger for action, his need for control, his preparation, his desperation to win. Pippen agreed to the bet, which tells you plenty about him too.
Think about this for a moment.. where are all the great stories about Tiger?
He sanitizes his image daily. He speaks in platitudes and technicalities and circles — “I love competing,” he says, and “I just try to stay in the moment,” and all that. He does not want to be known.
That quote reminds me of when Crash Davis teaches Nuke Laloosh in Bull Durham about handling interviews…
Crash Davis: It’s time to work on your interviews.
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: My interviews? What do I gotta do?
Crash Davis: You’re gonna have to learn your clichés. You’re gonna have to study them, you’re gonna have to know them. They’re your friends. Write this down: “We gotta play it one day at a time.”
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Got to play… it’s pretty boring.
Crash Davis: ‘Course it’s boring, that’s the point. Write it down.
Thanks Joe, for a terrific essay on the greatest golfer. This is seriously, one of the best pieces of writing I’ve seen in a long, long time.
How Tiger Does It
Just finished reading a terrific book “How Tiger Does It
The author talks a lot about kids and parenting (he must have his own!) and translating Tiger’s winning ways into tools you can give your kids. The biggest takeway for me, across the board however is the idea that your child must be internally motivated (pure motivation), and that motivation must come from inside them.
My daughters both play sports (softball, basketball, soccer and golf) but never, ever practice on their own without being asked. Never. They do however, read, write and practice their instruments. My younger one draws pictures just because she feels like it. It’s hard as a parent who knows that in order to get better, your kids have to practice – but the very act of pushing them to practice could be just the push your kid is looking for to quit. I’d prefer they keep playing casually instead of quitting because I’ve been an overbearing, winning obsessed parent.
The author points out “tips for raising a Tiger” towards the end of the book. I think they are worth listing here:
- Nurture your child’s pure motivation and natural potential (in other words, don’t project!!)
- Be a good caddie (help your child navigate, but let her take her own shots!)
- Place high expectations on your child (no for results, but honest, sportsmanlike and maximum effort in competition – direct praise at effort and behavior, not at ability or results)
- Apply the success formula (don’t over do it, enforce expectations for effort and character and reduce emphasis on natural ability and winning)
The book is filled with great stories about Tiger’s youth, his dad and mom’s approach and full of quotes and bromides from the man himself. Well worth the time to read this book.
Full disclosure: I was not asked to do this review, I found the book in the library!
Walking on Water
This is just simply.. too cool for words.. watch…
Mentally Tough
I know, I know… pathetic showing of blogging lately. Been busy!
I played 9 holes last weekend and shot 44, dispelling my earlier notion that I’d continue to get better through the summer.
Here’s a great video to tide you over:
Simply Awesome
It’s a great time to be a golf addict. Tiger and Rocco’s playoff at the U.S. Open was simply stunning.
Obligatory Masters Post
It’s Masters week. yep. Blah blah blah blah, Tiger, blah blah blah Phil, blah blah blah, Jack. Tiger, Tiger, Tiger, Tiger slam, blah blah blah.
I’m watching as much as possible sure, but am more excited to play some courses in South Carolina this week.
A bit more on my new grip… my hands HURT like hell! I asked my wife if 38 was too young for arthritis and after she laughed at me, I realized again at how oddly I had been holding my clubs. The joys of getting the right grip, swing and tempo. I’m trusting it though, my game is about to get to another level.
I think there is a big PGA Superstore in Myrtle Beach – I hope to get there this week and will try to get some good pics of the joint. Maybe they have some Masters specials.
Blah blah blah.
Yea Paula!
Amazing round by Paula Creamer to win the Fields Open shooting an incredible 66. She’s awesome and is my favorite LPGA golfer right now. I saw her on a show on the Golf Channel and was impressed by her maturity and talent.
But as good as Paula was this weekend, Tiger is even more awesome. I watched a lot of golf this week and can’t take my eyes of Mr. Woods. The guy is simply electric. His concentration is simply amazing. I’m in awe.
I’m watching Tiger get the trophy as I type this out. When he’s on, he’s not beatable. But what makes him great (just like it made MJ great) is that even when he’s not on, you still have to be nearly flawless to beat him (talk to Aaron B. about that).
Fan Us Up
