Average Golfer

Tiger Woods - This Much Is True

juniorshep@gmail.com (Average Golfer) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:50:38 PST

Rampant speculation. Plausible deniability. The Tiger Woods saga has reached dizzying heights. History will tell us though that this too shall pass. Perhaps a credibility dent to be suffered by Tiger, but no knock down blows. We're talking about golf here, not international politics or nuclear capabilities. Of course the "press" will continue to feed like Doberman on a t-bone, but they would regardless of the purported facts. Time heals all wounds and the timing on this one was sort of kind to Woods. Aside from missing his personal tournament he has at least a two month layoff before his expected return in 2010 at Torrey Pines.

Will there be ramifications? Oh, probably. Woods' march toward billionairedom could be delayed, but I doubt you'll see him asking for stimulus money any time soon. Sure his marketability may suffer with a public that's more concerned with what Britney Spears had for lunch than what sort of job the President is doing, but that's a reflection of where we are as a society. Will his marriage survive? Who the hell knows? Crap, half of the marriages in this country don't survive, including mine. Will he pass Jack's major total? Sheer time and numbers say yes, but until it happens it hasn't happened. Strife and turmoil in one's private life doesn't typically translate into golf excellence, but he made his bed.... When one strives to attain the seemingly unattainable and embraces the spotlight along the way, embracing as well untold riches, it's not enough to just say you're going to take your ball and go home when the game gets a little nasty. For that he deserves a slap on the trust meter.

This much is true.......... After a warm up event or two, or three, Tiger Woods, barring injury, will make his way to Augusta in the spring of 2010 to continue his pursuit and practice his craft. I'll watch and so will you. Anything that happens between now and then is irrelevant in the golf world in the opinion of this Average Golfer.

Til' next,

Tiger Woods Bails on Own Tournament, Chevron World Challenge

juniorshep@gmail.com (Average Golfer) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:55:30 PST

According to his official website, Mr. Woods has pulled the plug on playing in this week's Chevron World Challenge. That makes two consecutive years without the denizen due to injury, last year the knee, this year a purported face plant of some unknown type. The announcement was made as follows....

"Due to injuries sustained in a one-car accident last week, Tiger Woods will be unable to play in the 2009 Chevron World Challenge."

"I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," Woods said. "I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there."

Rather generic, non-enlightening, borderline lawyer speak indicating that Woods is no nearer to discussing his Thanksgiving Day Escalade episode with anyone other than Mrs. Woods. Certainly well within his right to do so, but time will tell if his relentless pursuit of privacy will tarnish the "Woods brand". It's definitely not going to keep the tabs and bloggers at bay, but then again, what would have?

Til' next,

Tiger Woods Hits Tree, Recovers Nicely

juniorshep@gmail.com (Average Golfer) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:48:09 PST

In the last of a long spate of driver woes, Tiger Woods reportedly backed out of his driveway at 2:25 AM this morning, backed into a fire hydrant, then ricocheted into a tree. Tiger's driving exploits have frequently been troubled by trees. This latest incident only proves that the more time you spend in trees the better you are at escaping the trouble.

It appears that the early reports of Woods being seriously injured were exaggerated. It's now said that the 33 year old suffered facial cuts in the incident with his 2009 Cadillac SUV. A statement from Health Central Hospital read he was, "admitted, treated, and released today in good condition."

Bystanders also reported that after hitting the hydrant and the tree Woods' third shot was a gorgeous approach onto his neighbor's "lawn/green" where he then easily converted a five footer for par. That left his scorecard unblemished in everyone's mind except perhaps for Mrs. Woods who was said to be dismayed by his 2:25 AM tee time. The DNF was Woods' first for the 2009 season.

Til' next,

Wie Wins - The Wait is Over.

juniorshep@gmail.com (Average Golfer) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:52:29 PST

The "Will Michelle Wie win?" watch is officially over. In her 66th LPGA start the phenom notched her 1st victory in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Her 69 today was good enough for a two stroke victory over Solheim Cup teammate Paula Creamer. Morgan Pressel, Cristie Kerr, and Jiyai Shin finished three back at -10. Wie knocked a 30 yard bunker shot to tap-in range for a 72nd hole birdie that sealed the win. In doing so she leaped off perhaps the biggest schneid in the history of golf. Final Full Field Scores.

Even a young Tiger Woods didn't have the expectations heaped on him that Wie's seen since her pre-teen days. Dubious career decisions, horribly timed injuries, and parents perceived as mettlesome have only acted as roadblocks in her predicted rise. Her 3-0-1 record in this year's Solheim Cup was a huge confidence boost that only proves the adage that golf can be a mental struggle. Her acceptance by her Cup teammates may have been the bell that went off in her head and convinced her she belonged in their club. Regardless, she showed today that she is all everyone wanted or expected her to be. Her youthful exuberance displayed after she sunk the winning putt was genuine and worth the price of admission to witness. She showed she still has a lot of kid in her in the post round interviews, seemingly struck by lightning. Don't confuse her childlike responses with an intellectual void though. No one gets into Stanford by accident, especially when they've abandoned their amateur status and can't play on the golf team.

Time will tell if this was Michelle's breakthrough moment and is a harbinger of things to come. She possesses a game of strength that no other woman pro has. On the difficult 220 yard par three 17th today most of the players had hit between a hybrid club for Yani Tseng, a long hitter, up to and including 3 woods. Michelle's club of choice on the hole this week was 4 or 5 iron. That my friends is a serious power difference. Couple that with renewed short game focus and dose of confidence and you might have glimpsed the future of women's golf. Better late than never.

Til' next,