Tiger Woods Redux

I previous posted about Tiger Woods here. It'll give you a chance to read my mad blogging skills early on!
-----------------------------

The FedEx Cup playoffs have started in the golf world.

This past weekend saw another spectacular and gritty performance by the worlds #1 golfer, Tiger Woods. He didn't win. But his play on Sunday was reminiscent of the 2008 US Open that he won in dramatic fashion on basically one leg...in a 19 hole playoff no less. Taking the rest of the season off after that victory in June of '08, Tiger had knee surgery to repair a damaged ACL and walked around in a cast for some time as the result of stress fractures to the same leg. It was amazing he could walk a golf course for 5 rounds (between 25 and 30 hours of play) and win arguably the hardest golf tournament that is played each year, let alone swing a golf club.

This past week was the top 125 players starting their competitive playoffs for the FedEx Cup championship and the $10 million (you read that right) pay off that goes along with it to the winner.

Tiger came in ranked #1 in the standings as he has done 4 times previous (twice before winning the cup and the cash). After two weeks off from a failed attempt to win the PGA (the years final major tournament) he had to cut his Wednesday practice round short after only nine holes due to a tweaky back he blamed on a poor nights sleep on a bad hotel mattress. (If I had his money I would have my own bed shipped to every tournament. But that's me.)

Thursday's start seemed to be fine and Tiger was in the hunt at the end of the first day...after 11 hours on the course due to 2 rain delays. Friday midway through his second round there were signs of the back tightening up but he commented afterward it was fine and a little physical therapy would have him ready to go on Saturday.

Saturday morning ended the second round and was the worst round for him to this point in the tourney. During Saturday's third round, the back again failed him down the final stretch of holes and he ended up 4 shots off the lead going into Sunday's final round. One of his playing partners actually caught fire and held the lead over night.

As the Sunday round started, Tiger found himself paired with a relative newbie on the tour (at least in terms of being high up on the leaderboard on a Sunday). Tiger and Kevin Chappell teed off in the second to last group right before the leaders.

It was the most intense tournament I have watched in a while as several top players jockeying for the lead...charging...falling back. The third round leader shot himself out of the tournament after one horrendous hole. Tiger tied for the lead and fell back and then charged forward again. Then on the 13th hole, a long par-5, well, watch this short video...




With six holes to go!!! He somehow ended up bogeying this hole to drop a shot and now five holes to play. A par and another bogey and he was three shots back. Every full swing a monumental effort to hit the shot. Then on 16 he hits an amazing shot and birdies the hole...2 back. On 17 another birdie...1 back. Needing a birdie on 18 to tie the leader in the clubhouse (Adam Scott) at 11 under and force at least a 2 man play off. This is one of the hardest holes on the course. Tiger puts his second shot 20 feet past the cup...the crowd is going insane! The 18th hole was surrounded by what looked like every person attending the tournament that day...it was electric. Everyone expected a birdie and a playoff. One inch. The ball stopped 1 inch from going in the hole.



There were probably 6000 to 8000 people following Tiger's group that day. Kevin Chappell, in the end, had no chance. He shot 5 over and went from tied for 2nd to 15th. It is a crush of humanity everywhere when you get paired with Tiger.

I know maybe none of you follow golf or even know much about it. I post this as a way of recognizing the truly and unbelievably talented golfer that is Tiger Woods. He went from being on top of the world in every way to the reality-shattering personal strife and is back on top again. He has won five tournaments this year. No one else has won more than 2. They say he may not win Player of The Year since he did not win a major tournament. They say maybe Adam Scott might win it...since he won the Masters and then this past week. I say ridiculous. Many golfers do not win 5 times in their entire career. Tiger has had that many wins in a SEASON...ten times!!!  He has played 14 tournaments this year and won 5...over 30%. Believe me, it is a difficult thing to do.

I have no comment on his personal fallibility. I hold no grudges. I admire the man for his talent, his ability to focus unlike any other tour player, his grit to fight through injuries and carry on to the end. I do not know of another player on tour who would have continued to play after the shot on 13 on Sunday.  I have tried to play with an achey back and quite frankly I watched in awe as he finished that round. Other players have flamed out and never recovered from various off-course issues.

Another of the playoff tournaments (The Deutsche Bank Championship) where the field is now paired down to the top 100, is starting on Thursday. After that the field will be cut to the top 70. A week off and then the BMW Championship after which the top 30 advance to Atlanta for the final event of the series. Tiger will be teeing it up again in two days.

And he will be there at the end. Don't bet against him.