Tiger Woods’ struggles have been well documented since he returned to the world of professional golf. But all of the successes he piled up before the sex scandal broke in December of last year have – unbelievably – kept him at the top of the world golf rankings. Officially he is still the best player in the world despite the fact that he hasn’t won a tournament in eight months. Well that could change at next week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. Tiger goes into that tournament with 9.97 pts, however a win by either Phil Mickelson (9.24 pts) or Lee Westwood (9.04 pts) would put them at the top of the heap.
So what can Tiger do to avoid what many will see as the icing on the cake in his fall from greatness?
Well, I’ve quietly been keeping this idea to my crazy self but was surprised to find someone reputable in the media who shares my theory. That someone is Sean Fay of Yahoo UK and “our” idea is that the Tiger needs to return to his sexual exploits. His sexploits.
He needs to get his mojo back. Needs to be himself.
Here’s what Fay says: “Has anyone thought that the reason why he may not be at his best is because he ain’t getting any in the bedroom? In modern sports the idea of what is, and what isn’t, the ‘professional’ thing to do has become so narrow that there is now no flexibility to account for different personalities.”
I couldn’t agree more. One of the interesting things about sport and life is that there is no specific formula that works and no specific set of behaviours that will make you a winner.
Mr. Fay points to the recent example of Sweden’s Carl Petterson winning the Canadian Open on a hangover. Apparently Petterson decided to have seven beers after concluding that he wasn’t going to make the cut after the second round of the tournament. When he surprisingly found himself still in the tournament, he was forced to play in far from his optimal physical condition. The result? He shot a 10-under-par 60 – the lowest score in the tournament’s 101-year history.
I think Fay could be onto to something here. A new theory about performance: be yourself, no matter what the rest of the world thinks.
Do you hear that Tiger?
You have carte blanche from us. At least two of us.
So…If that means chasing women, in order to chase titles; if that means landing ladies, in order to land trophies – then you go for it buddy. Otherwise you may soon find that you are no longer the best player in the world.
The opening of the Masters yesterday was supposed to be all about Tiger Woods but it was great to see two legendary names in golf history ending the day at the top of the leader board: Fred Couples at the very top with a -6 and Tom Watson in third at -5.
Tiger is tied in 7th with -4 and today should really tell us where his game is at.
Also – it will be interesting to see how he stacks up against Lee Westwood, who seemed to be in good form yesterday.
1992 Masters champion Fred Couples can imagine Tiger Woods earning his 5th Masters next Sunday:
“Tiger is swinging very well…He’s the best player in the world… and he will do well here at Augusta.”
“His intimidation factor is always there but you have to play good golf and he hasn’t played much.
“It would be crazy for me to say he’s not going to so well but it would be crazy for me to say he’s the guy to beat because he hasn’t played competitive golf for four or five months.
“If he’s in the lead on Sunday, he’ll have no problem. If he’s not, he’ll say: ‘Well, this is what I need to work on’.” (Source)
I totally agree with couples. I think it will go either way: win-win. He either wins or gains so much from the experience that he will be well on his way to being the best player in the world again.
Actually, I’m going to take it one step further and say that based on yesterday’s press conference, Woods sounds like a new man who is about to embark on almost a second life in golf; a life that could be as great, if not greater than the life he had prior to his sex scandal.
“What a shame Lee Westwood will be out on the golf course and not in the media centre when Tiger Woods finally deigns to answer a few questions at Augusta National on Monday.”
“Asked by Sportsmail what would be the first question he would lob at the American, given the chance, Westwood tossed a grenade instead.
‘How did you ever find the time to become the best player in the world?’ he responded.”
Tiger Woods’ caddy, Steve Williams says that the best golfer in the world will not be heckled on his return to golf after his sex scandal:
“The people that are going to watch at Augusta are called patrons there, not spectators,” he said.
“They are all golf fans and it is a very difficult tournament to get into. It is the only golf tournament in the world there is waiting list to get in to.”
“They will be very happy to see Tiger playing at Augusta where he’s been successful,” said Williams. (Source)
Wouldn’t it be something if after all of the controversy, Tiger picked up where he left off and started winning immediately – including the Masters?
“So what happens if Woods comes back the way Bryant, ultimately, has come back? What if he figures: screw you, I’ll never be what I was before all this hit. But I can still show you all how good I’m going to be.
“Bryant is not the lovable, smiling pitchman any more – if he ever was. He’s kind of a cold-faced assassin, backbone of last year’s championship Lakers team, the guy in whose hands everybody knows the ball is going to be at crunch time. And he still comes through, then acts as if it’s no big deal.”
Perkins could be onto something here. Woods’ situation and his status as best player are very similar to Kobe’s – and so is Woods’ attitude.
So is it only a matter of time before Woods is dominating his sport again in the same way Kobe is dominating his – so long after he was declared the most sinful player in the world?
