Instead of hello world, it should now be, look out golf world. For those of you who watched the final round or even the final 9 holes or wait the last 3 saw something pretty amazing. Starting with Zach Johnson birding the 16th hole to take a 1up lead going into the last 2. This set the table for Tiger Woods to show how close he really is to getting himself back into the winners circle, that is if Zach Johnson didn’t birdie any of the last 2 holes. Lucky for Tiger he didn’t. This left the stage wide open for Tiger to perform his award winning leading role as an intense, fearless and ultra focused gladiator that has been beaten but now on his way back to immortality. His performance left me standing clapping and begging for an encore. The fact that Tiger Woods birdied the last 2 to win was amazing and very exciting but as you could tell from Zach’s face after the final putt dropped on the 72nd hole, not that surprising. What I did find surprising and quite refreshing was the after round interview where Tiger was actually smiling and sharing some thoughts with golf fans. Could this be a new Tiger??? Actually showing the world why golf is such a great game, we need Tiger to not only perform like a champion but act like one also. I am referring only to actions during his tournaments, what he does behind closed doors now that he is not married is his own business. Whatever the remedy for the play we saw on the weekend at the President’s Cup and the final round at the Chevron seems to be working. What we need from Tiger is, to talk to the kids that are there to see him play and to sign their autographs, these are the next generation of golfers and we need them to love the game as much as we do. Next, tip the damn bag room and golf staff, hey Tiger you clown, the guys working at golf courses that you go to are your biggest fans. What is it to you to throw them a 20 for dealing with your ego while you are walking around silent thinking we should be honored to have you in our presences, oh and tell your boy Jordan the same. I worked the bag room at La Costa for years and yah news flash some of us rely on tips to make a living and you 2 where what we called, hitting it stiff. The final request is and I know it is easier said than done but regardless if you win or loose give a good interview after, the kids out there want to hear why you played well or poorly and what thoughts you had on why you played the way you did. You are the master and they will follow if you show them the way.
All in all it was a great finish to a very interesting year. Several first time winners, had the rookie Keegan Bradley win a major, the boys from Ireland Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Rory showed some tremendous skills/heart and Bill Hass cashed a big check and won the FED EX Cup.
As stated in my previous blog, the golfers on the PGA Tour better start looking behind them because a hungry and irritated Tiger is ready to attack. We have heard from several announcers in the past couple for years that these young players are just not afraid of Tiger, well we will soon find out. The 2012 PGA Tour season is right around the corner, if Tiger can get himself into position to play in the last couple groups on the weekends it will make for a very action packed season.
Stay Tuned……