In case there was any wonder about why we have yet to comment on Tiger Woods' triumphant return to Golf.... It's simply because I don't give a shit. I didn't really give a shit when this whole thing went down in the first place. I understand that his sponsors care, and that makes sense to me, especially those that are less associated with sports. I would not keep him as a representative of my company, because he obviously is not the type of person that I would want as a representative. And, as great as Tiger is at golf, there are plenty of other famous persons that are equally recognizable, and can move merchandise. As for the PGA, I would care, because the fact that this guy chose, idiotically, to get married and have children, when he obviously is not in a state or at a point where he can handle such a responsibility, is going to cost me a shit-ton of money, while he is busy transforming his image. However, as a viewer, I couldn't care much less.
Now, I suppose I must understand that I just don't enjoy this type of "entertainment" as much as some others. I hate Reality TV. I don't hate Reality TV that is a legitimate competition among skilled competitors (save America's Next Top Model: but that has more to do with Tyra Banks, AND we could certainly argue the terms "legitimate competition" and "skilled competitors" in the context of ANTM), such as the cooking or design reality competitions. However, shows which are created by bringing stupid, over-dramatic people together so that they will bitch at one another, is certainly not my cup of tea. So, I guess I am not the proper person to be commenting on whether this whole Tiger thing is worthy of so much mention. All I know is that I hated him for a month, because he ruined sports coverage. I wanted coverage about sports, yet I got the kind of crap celebrity gossip that I should be looking for on E! or perez hilton.
But I should digress on whether or not ANYONE should enjoy this nonsense, and focus on whether this is, to any degree, a sports story. Let us get one thing straight. There is nothing COURAGEOUS about Tiger Woods playing the Masters. Just because he apparently is a slime-ball, and had to take time off to stop being a slime-ball (or make it seem to women like he was trying to stop being a slime-ball), doesn't make this comeback a big deal. The idea that Tiger would come back to Augusta if he wasn't in playing shape, if his practice rounds weren't on par (no pun intended) with the level of play he expects, is a complete farce. Tiger is a professional golfer; he is the single best professional golfer that most of us have ever seen. He very well may be the single best professional golfer that most of us will ever see. Do you think he can't take a few months off and come back able to play golf. It is a thoroughly refined skill, but it is one that he has kept in constant practice since he was a child. It is not just going to go away. That, and it's not like he didn't touch a club the whole time he wasn't playing. So, did I expect Tiger to play a perfect four days, to look like the best golfer I've ever seen? No, of course not. I expect him to be about where most Major League baseball is right now: mildly seasoned from some training, and in playing shape, but still find tuning the minute tactical aspects of the game. So am I surprised that he is competing in the early rounds? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The Masters is a sports story, because it's the Masters. Is it a larger story because Tiger is there? Yes! Just like a Yankee game is a bigger story than a Royal game, or a Federer match is a bigger story than a Mardy Fish match. When the biggest name in the sport is involved, it is a bigger story. Golf is interesting without Tiger, as the other golfers can play with more confidence and you will more consistently see more competitive golf without a dominating force, but it's not the story that it is as the field chases Tiger and Tiger chases history. Is it a larger story because Tiger returns to golf after some time off? Yes! Just like it's a larger story when a pitcher returns from a surgery than it would be if it was any old start, or if a basketball player or boxers comes out of a short retirement. We know that time off will have some effect (even though it is not going to intensely hamper the athlete), and we want to know exactly so much. Will he still be as dominant as he once was? But is this a bigger SPORTS story, because Tiger banged some unknown number of chicks while he was supposed to be married to a super-model that most of us would give at least one nut to be married to (excuse the term)? NO! That is not sports, and that is why I haven't mentioned it on this blog until now.
Do not think that we will not be commenting on Golf, just because we have not gone crazy about Tiger. You can expect a report on the Masters some time tomorrow, as we prepare for the home stretch of Sunday afternoon.
In Masters new for now, Lee Westwood emerged today as the leader, shooting -4 on a much more difficult day at Augusta. Reports have come in that today's pin placement was much more difficult (Many, many golfers were under par on day 1), and the wind has picked up since yesterday. Westwood sits at -9 on top, with one hole remaining. The late group seems to be on hole 15, among the leaders. That group includes Phil Mickelson (-5). Ian Poulter is in the clubhouse at -8, after shooting a -4 on the day, a well. Anthony Kim is at -7 through 16 and then Tiger, K.J. Choi and Rick Barnes are all in the clubhouse at -6. Sadly, Fred Couples (who this blog was stoked to see atop the leader board after 18) had a rough +3 today. He and, fellow old fogey, Tom Watson sit at -3.
The cut is currently projected at +3. Notables below that line include Padraig Harrington, Mark O'Meara, David Duval, Stuart Cink and Vijay Singh, among others. Defending champion Angel Cabrera sits dangerously at +3.
Stay tuned for more coverage tomorrow.
Ravenously,
APT
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