Archive for the ‘Tiger Woods’ Category
Jack Nicklaus’s 25th Anniversary of his 6th Green Jacket – The 1986 Masters Championship
On a picture perfect Sunday in April of 1986, the golf world would witness an awe inspiring chapter in Master’s history on golf’s most revered stage, Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The star of that show was none other than Jack Nicklaus, who had been playing mediocre golf up until the Master’s, if measured by his normal standards. But mediocre as it was, he remained on the leader board for the first three rounds despite what his critics may have thought as they virtually wrote him off for any chance at a win in Augusta. There were mutterings that Jack should think about retiring, he is too old to win, he’s washed up, but that is exactly what sparked a fire and fueled his game enough for him to draw on his uncanny ability to play his best under pressure.
Having been and remaining a huge Jack Nicklaus fan, I had been watching the hi-lights for the first three days to see how he was fairing against an iconic field of players. The leader board was a virtual who’s who of golf’s greatest players of that time or any era for that matter. The field included Greg Norman , who was leading Jack by four strokes on Sunday, Nick Price, Bernard Langer, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Kite and none other than Tom Watson, Jack’s fiercest rival in the majors. Jack Nicklaus was 46 years of age and many had written him off but I had a gut feeling that he was not yet finished. From the Carolina Cherry or the ninth hole on, my eyes were fixated to the television screen and I was glued to my seat as I was privileged to see the Golden Bear wield his magic wand and view golf history in the making. The Bear played well enough on the first eight holes to remain close to the lead but he would have to make something happen soon if he were to have any chance for a win. When he birdied nine, ten and eleven, he made enough noise to send shivers up the spine of his competitors who proceeded to falter under Jack’s heroics hole after hole down the stretch. The Golden Bear, and he was affectionately and aptly named, stumbled at the Golden Bell12th with a bogie, only to par Azalea and Chinese Fir, 13 and 14, to set up his historic run on the last four holes. Having bombed his drive off the tee at the par five 15th or Firethorn, he left himself about 200 yards to the pin. He consulted with son Jackie 11, who was on his bag and asked what he thought about an eagle here? I’m sure Jackie concurred that would further ensure his dad’s possibility for a 6th green jacket and 18th major. He skillfully laced a four iron to 12 feet and converted the putt for EAGLE!, two out of the lead. The next hole, Rosebud or par three 16th put the icing on the proverbial cake as he hit his shot, the ball tracked off the slope toward the pin and he almost holed out as the ball nudged the hole as it rolled past by about three feet. He easily made the putt, putting him eight under and ONE back - Jack was on the move! He reached the 17th hole, which was to be the defining hole of the tournament. Jack hit driver and a wedge to set himself up for a birdie opportunity. When he drained an incredibly difficult putt from about 12 feet and raised his putter toward the sky in an iconic pose, I knew my idol had secured his 6th Green jacket. Jack made a difficult two putt for par on 18 look easy while Greg Norman and the rest of the field faltered including Seve Ballesteros, whose ball found water on 15 and Tom Kite who narrowly missed a birdie chance on 18 which left him one shot short of a playoff. Jack Nicklaus’s win at the 1986 Master’s Championship, was his 18th major victory, a feat no one has come close to except Tiger Woods. Tiger’s attempt to match Jack’s record was derailed in November of 2009 when his personal life became fodder for the news and TV media. He is not yet done but no matter what the record books show, Jack Nicklaus is the number one golfer of all time, at least in my book!
It is approaching the 25th anniversary of the Golden Bear’s awe inspiring Master’s Victory and I offer my hand in applause to his expertise with golf clubs! Congratulations to Jack Nicklaus.
Louis Oostuizen’s final total score of -16 was good enough to beat the field at this years British Open handily. Lee Westwood finished seven shots back at -9 which shows how well Oosthuizen played for this prestigious tournament at the oldest and most revered golf venue, St. Andrews. This years British Open was a bit boring for golf fans in the United States, since the top American player, Sean O’Hair finished at -6, ten strokes back and tied for seventh place. None of the U.S. players was even close to the top three spots, which is unusual for the U.S. team.
Tiger Woods, who has not yet returned to Tiger form, had a hard time with the putter and settled for a tie for 23rd with a -3 total on Sunday. John Daly was on the leader board on Thursday with a first round sixty six, Stewart Cink, last years winner in the Open over Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite, all shot plus one and tied for 48th place. This score is not that impressive for these U.S. players. I had high hopes for Phil Mickelson coming into this championship but he his play has been less than stellar since his Masters victory in April of this year.
The British Open was the second major golf tournament in a row where the European and other top world players have kept the United States off the leaderboard. In the U.S. Open in June, the top three places went to Graeme McDowell, the Frenchman, Havret and Ernie Els from South Africa. The outcome and lackluster performance by the American players in these last two major venues does not bode well for the U.S. in the coming Ryder Cup championship in September of 2010. Corey Pavin, the captain for the U.S. has his work cut out for him if the Amercian team is to be competitive enough to win this years Ryder Cup. I wish the U.S. Team luck as they may surely need some this year. The United States players had better get their golf clubs and spend some time at the golf range to prepare for the challenge they face ahead.
Congratulations to Louis Oosthuizen on his performance in this years British Open. Happy Golfing to All!
Phil Mickelson won this years Masters in dramatic style. During his golf round on Sunday he shot a bogie free 67, not an easy task for any professional golfer. Last year I posted about my disappointment in the major golf tournaments because golf ’s greatest players were never able to seal the deal in the final round. I think we may be in for the best year in competitive golf that we’ve seen in a long while if The Masters is any indication of what we can anticipate. The last Masters I watched as exciting as this year was in 1986 when golfing legend, Jack Nicklaus rallied on the back nine holes on Sunday to become the oldest player to win a major at age 46. Another fan favorite, Fred Couples and golfing legend Tom Watson set a good precedent for any golfer who thinks there may be an age limit to determine ones golfing skills by playing as well or better than many of the younger players in the field. They accomplished this feat at age 50 and 60 respectively. Tom Watson faltered after the first round but he played well enough to make the cut which is an accomplishment in itself at any age. Fred Couples, a past Masters Champion from 1992, is now dominating the senior tour and he led the field after the first round. Fred, at 50, played better than the majority of his peers finishing alone in sixth place at -9, just two shots back of Tiger Woods and K. J. Choi. Tiger and K. J. Choi were paired together and matched each others score for all four rounds and finished at -11, tied for fourth place. When Tiger Woods was interviewed on camera he expressed disappointment in his performance in this years Masters Tournment. His only goal was to win the tournament as his competitive nature will not allow him to settle for anything less than victory.
Tiger Woods made his first appearance on the PGA Tour in 1997 and I immediately became a fan. The events that transpired last Thanksgiving were the beginning of a traumatic period in the life of the worlds most renowned golfer, Tiger Woods. Although he put on a smile for his fans and the camera and was received well by his peers, the media and his golfing fans, he seemed distant during this tournament and justifiably so having his dalliances and indiscretions during his marriage being so blatantly exposed for public scrutiny. Tiger Woods is an incredible golfer, and I know of no other who could have performed so well after a four month plus hiatus from golf and with his personal life turned upside down since last November. As remarkably as he played he had opportunities to score better but seemed distracted as he made some un- Tiger like mental errors down the stretch. On one of the final golf holes he took a two foot par putt for granted, missed and had to settle for bogie. If not for this error in judgement he may very well have contended for a possible second or third place finish. The miss was uncharacteristic of Tiger’s normal performance especially when the competition is heating up down the stretch.
Phil Mickelson, on the other hand, was a man on a mission as he brought home the Green Jacket for himself, wife Amy and his mom and family. His performance during the tournament and especially in the final round on Sunday showed the world the golfing skills that make him the greatest player on tour in the present day era of golf, maybe second only to Tiger Woods. Tiger exposed himself to the world as the mere mortal that he is and not the superman who some perceived him to be before the incident last year. He has left the door open for Phil to move into his # 1 slot as Phil is a spectacular player who is coming into his own and is finally believing in himself. Unfortunately, it may have taken a family crisis to make that happen. His wife Amy was courageous as she made her way to the tournament with their children to be by her husbands side despite her illness. She wanted to share in this historic moment as she played an important role by inspiring Phil to win his third green jacket. Phil Mickelson now shares this honor with some of the most renowned names in golf, Jimmy Demaret, Nick Faldo, Gary Player and Sam Snead. Arnold Palmer, another golf legend has four wins along with Tiger Woods. Jack Nicklaus leads with an incredible six victories at this prestigious golf tournament, The Masters. I thoroughly enjoyed this years Masters and I look forward to seeing Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and the other great players on tour, hitting golf balls and competing in the rest of the majors in 2010. Happy Golfing to All!
A short time ago it appeared as if Tiger and Elin were trying to salvage their marriage after he had completed the first part of his sex addiction treatment. Now it is rumored that Elin will be returning home with their children and Tiger Woods will be competing in The Masters without his wife and family in the stands cheering him on. This is a good indication that the reconcilliation is not going well and it may be over for them.
The big question is will his personal problems and the lay off from golf competition affect his performance in The Masters. This is a tough venue to return for and it will be a true test of how this situation has affected perhaps the greatest golfer who ever lived. We should be able to make some determination by how he is hitting golf balls in the first two rounds if he will be around on Sunday to make a run at the Green Jacket. What do you think? Send in your opinion and comments. Happy Golfing to All!
The return of Tiger Woods to golf for The Masters this season was the most logical prediction for the once illustrious golfer. Most of the writers in the golf media, inlcuding myself had determined that this tournament would be the most likely for his return. As good as Tiger is he still needs every chance he can get if he is to allow himself the opportunity to tie or beat Jack Nicklaus’s incredible 18 major record, which inlcudes six Masters victories.
This goal has been in the forefront of Tiger’s mind since he first held a golf club in his hand. In a few short weeks we will see how the layoff and his personal dilemma has affected his golfing skills. Will he return in true Tiger form or will he even make the cut at Augusta, one of the toughest major venues on the PGA roster? Either outcome is possible but I’m looking forward to his return to golf and to watch him hitting golf balls again as he does like no other since Jack. Happy Golfing to All!
Tiger Woods is for the moment resuming his role as dad and doting husband to Elin and their children. He is back in Orlando and if I had to guess he is also inconspicuously preparing for his return to golf this year in golf’s most prestigious tournament in April, The Masters.
I imagine it will be difficult for him at first to face his peers, golf fans and the press when he appears for the first time in public at the beginning of April, which is only a few short weeks away. But if I know anything about Tiger Woods he will be looking to make a statement by staying in contention from start to finish of The Masters. He’ll be back in form hitting golf balls and competing again in the game he loves. This is speculation on my part but I can’t see him foregoing an important opportunity on his march to golf history and Jack Nicklaus’s remarkable 18 major record. We shall soon see. Happy Golfing to All!
One of my favorite tournaments to watch besides the majors is the Pebble Beach Pro- Am. Pebble Beach has long been ranked as one of the top 5 golf courses in the world and justifiably so. Dustin Johnson edged out David Duval by a stroke and is now second on the money list behind Steve Stricker who is in excellent standing and one of golf’s hottest players. Duval’s second place finish indicates a possible resurgence by one of the world’s top players a decade or so ago. Duval showed some semblance of a return to his old form last year at the U.S. Open when he tied for second place with none other than Phil Mickelson and Ricky Barnes.
Another fan favorite and tops on my list is Phil Mickelson who made a decent showing by tying for eighth place 5 shots back. He seems to be off to a slow start but improving every week which bodes well for him with the impending first major of the year quickly approaching, The Masters in early April. If Phil can keep this pace going he will be a contender at this most prestigious of golf events. I look forward to The Masters where all the best golfers in the world will be hitting golf balls to tough pin placements to try their hand at taking home perhaps golf’s most coveted prize.
The big question on everyone’s mind is, Will Tiger Woods make this his first tournament of this year since the Thanksgiving 09′ debacle when he fell from grace with his family, sponsors, and his many golf fans around the world? The Masters is less than two months away and I would not be surprised if Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are going to head to head on Sunday for the title. Stay Tuned and Happy Golfing to All!
Tiger Woods finally addressed the public with his written and predictable speech in hand. He offered his apologies to Elin, his sponsors, his fans and all his peers on the PGA Tour. While Elin was conspicuosly missing from the conference, Tiger admitted his indiscretions cost him and all of those near to him dearly. He was also non – committal about his return to golf and when that might be. He said it may be this year or maybe not but if I had to wager on a date I would put my money on the Masters in early April. This golf tournament is the most prestigious of the majors and it is critical in his chase of Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 major victories.
It was also evident that his stint in sex rehabilitaion is not quite over. He has to return to the clinic this week and perhaps deal with his problem for the remainder of his life and golf career. His illness has been equated to that of an alcoholic or habitual gambler who cannot just quit or heal their addiction cold turkey or without continued support and treatment. Tiger’s mom was there to comfort her son, who she knows is hurting as she greeted him with a big hug at the end of the press conference. As noted previously, I think the best medicine for Tiger is to return to the game he loves as soon as possible because hitting golf balls is the thing he does best. We wish you well Tiger and an expedient return to golf. Happy Golfing to All!
It looks like the controversy continues as Tiger Woods is holding a press conference today to discuss his future, both in golf and his personal life. I’m sure many are anxious to see whether Elin remains at his side while at the press conference.
The question on everyone’s mind is how he will address and respond to this small group of close friends, associates and select press personnel? Will he return for the Accenture match play Tournament, which was the first to drop him when the scandal hit, or will he quietly prepare for the Masters, which is the first major of the year. This years Masters is arguably the most important major and maybe tournament in Tiger’s career? It will set the tone for his return to golf as hitting golf balls is the thing Tiger does best. Stay tuned and Happy Golfing to All!
Elin and Tiger Woods are finally back in their Orlando home after she spent much needed time with tiger for his final days in the rehab sex clinic in Hattiesburg. Tiger had again reinforced his committment to be a better father, husband and person in general and has apologized profusely to all his fans who have supported him over his once illustrious career.
As I stated in my first writing about Tiger’s indiscretions the public should not be judging him. He has admitted to an illness and far be it for us to not take him at his word. If Elin is willing to forgive him and he can work out his relationship at home and does indeed own up for his mistakes, we can only wish him well. I think most of his true fans are eager to see his return to the sport he loves and hitting golf balls is the best medicine for him right now, especially with the Masters quickly approaching. All the best to you Tiger and welcome back. Happy Golfing to All!