Is Tiger Woods back?
Did you see the look on his face after the ball went into the hole?
For a lot of athletes all it takes is one moment to completely turn things around.
Two years is a long time to wait for anything and I think that everything that Tiger has endured during that time will make him a better player going forward.
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in Australia, there are no bad moustaches
Australian PGA Tour golfer Geoff Ogilvie has the moustache of the day – partly for the sheer volume of the stache itself, partly for his stalwart play in the President’s Cup Thursday. Ogilvie, with partner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, were leading in their foursome until caught by Americans Bill Haas and Nick Watney. Final: 4-2 for the Americans.
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Ben Crane has won three golf majors and so knows a thing or two about being the best.
I guess one of those things is having fun on the course with your buddies, your boys.
Sing along and dance along as he and his buddies show you what it means to be a golfer these days.
Everyone can be a golf boy. Give it a try…
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Read the full Golf Boy story > in the Toronto Star
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Tom Lewis, an amateur golfer competing in this week’s British Open, hit four consecutive birdies near the end of his round to give him a score of 65 – the lowest ever by an amateur in the British Open. He’s also the first amateur in 43 years to find himself atop the leaderboard at the Open.
His statement after the round tells us a bit about how to focus in a big competition – on one thing at a time: “I was happy to get the drive off the tee at the first, and that was all that mattered.”
Go Tom.
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Northern Ireland's best: McIlroy and McDowell
Those are the words of defending US Open champion and fellow Northern-Irelander Graeme McDowell:
“Nothing this kid does ever surprises me,” McDowell said. “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen. I didn’t have a chance to play with Tiger when he was in his real pomp, and this guy is the best I’ve ever seen. Simple as that. He’s great for golf. He’s a breath of fresh air for the game, and perhaps we’re ready for golf’s next superstar.”
A lot of people are saying that: next superstar.People who love his long game. People who love his short game. And people who love his personality. A joy to behold.
He is no ice-in-the-veins Tiger Woods.
Nor does he have Tiger Woods’ record of 14 majors.
Still people are saying that McIlroy is possibly the one who will break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors.
But before he can get there he’ll need to surpass Greg Norman’s two majors, Padraig Harrington’s three, Phil Mickelson’s four, Seve Ballesteros’ five, Nick Faldo’s six, Arnold Palmer’s seven, Tom Watson’s eight, Ben Hogan’s nine and Walter Hagen’s 11.
Would people be less excited about McIlroy’s prospects if they took a close look at those names and numbers?
That looks like a long road to me. A lot of legends to pass.
On top of that I think it’s entirely possible that the emergence of McIlroy will actually, finally, spark Tiger Woods back into tournament winning form. Which would be fun for the golf world but would also make McIlroy’s assault on the majors record all the more difficult.
So – in the meantime – yes – it’s fine to say that McIlroy is the best player you’ve “ever seen”. Enjoy him. Behold him. McIlroy looks that good a golfer – regardless of how many majors he ends up winning.
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Video: Watch ESPN’s conversation with Rory McIlroy after his record-breaking final round at the 2011 US Open
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Rory McIlroy at his best
Yesterday at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, Rory McIlroy exorcised the demons of his Masters collapse by becoming the first player in the 111-year history of the U.S. Open to achieve a 13-under par.
And he did so despite a double bogey into the drink on 18.
His second round 5-under 66 was enough to put him into the record books and I think make him the first legitimate challenger to Tiger Woods title of the Best Player in the World.
In fact, McIlroy’s two-round score matches the U.S. Open record set by Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach for the largest margin at the halfway point.
McIlroy yesterday admitted that for the last two days he has been at the very top of his game.
“It’s very near the best I can play,” he said.
One can only hope he can stay at his best for two more rounds and win the tournament in record fashion. With Tiger not even at this tournament, golf could use a new hero – or at least until its old hero gets his head back into the game.
Rory McIlroy – the next Best Player?
We’ll see. We’ll hope. Two more rounds to go…
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Video: Watch the ESPN report on McIlroy’s record-setting second round.
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