They light competitive fires in athletes and inspire passion in fans. And for quite a few years, golf didn't have any rivalries. No real ones anyway.
Golf had Tiger Woods, one player so dominant it seemed no one would ever step up to challenge him. Those whose job it was to write about golf, lamented the lack of a worthy adversary... and latched onto Phil Mickelson... to little avail. Ultimately, the Tiger/Phil stories were rarely compelling, in part because Mickelson never appeared to have much appetite for being the anti-Tiger.
Then came 2010. Lefty's season seemed to start and end with his touching win at the Masters. Meanwhile Europeans won the remaining three majors... plus the Ryder Cup.
Wracked by scandal and vilified by many in sports media, Woods floundered. He went from event to event, offering little hope for a much-awaited comeback, however despite the winless season... and the reams of righteous indignation put forth by the press... it was clear that Tiger was still US golf's best hope. And from a fan-standpoint, far-and-away the player who generated the most interest, passion and excitement.
Headlines coming out of the Chevron World Challenge yesterday reflected the continued consternation many journalists still feel about Tiger Woods and his game, while International headlines vaunted the awesome clutch-putting win by affable Graeme McDowell. Others were quick to dismiss the tournament altogether, as a highly curated exhibition that revealed little.
Be that as it may, fan sentiment is best reflected these days on the social networks particularly, Twitter where hashtags and keywords can provide a real-time snapshot of the level of engagement and enthusiasm surrounding a particular person or event ...and yesterday afternoon it was crystal clear. A Tiger Woods rivalry is still what golf fans want. In everyone from the avid golf fanatic to the most peripheral golf-observer-in-passing, a final round with Tiger in the mix... or the possibility of such... drives interest and provokes passion for golf.
Photos by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images North America
Great post, Patricia.
ReplyDeleteTiger played some great golf in the tournament. However, he no longer can falter in a round, especially the 4th. Someone can play a great round and overtake him.
And, that is what we look for from a dominant player. Tiger has set a new standard for golfers and they seem to have almost caught up to that standard.
Tiger should always be remembered for raising golf to a new level and for the money he puts out for golf development.
In a very odd way, I think Tiger did more for himself in a positive way than if he had won this quasi event with a small field of top talent.
ReplyDeleteLooking very human, he played like one. If he ran away and won by 8 shots, people would have said the roulette wheel was rigged. By being a runner-up, I think he set the stage for 2011.
The only negative in my mind was when he said he does not want to get back to where he had been. He wants to be better than that. To me, that translates into expectations of being MORE dominant than ever. I really can't see that happening.
Excellent point Glen makes. For years Tiger intimidated potential rivals, but he also compelled them to want to play better and I do believe the current crop of top Europeans is a reflexion of that.
ReplyDeleteWith the talent that has emerged, internationally and here in the US Ducks is probably right that Tiger will never get to be more dominant than ever, but I liked the answer.
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This is exactly what I took from the tournament. I thought it was a fitting end and an optimistic one. As if maybe this is exactly what the sport needed to take away from this tumultuous year. The idea that Tiger Woods the perfect, unbeatable champion was as unsustainable as the overextended ecomony. He can now be a fierce competitor who will be challenged by worthy rivals. That'll actually be much more entertaining than having him be the only one.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe some of the golf writers still have so much animosity towards Tiger. I think I'm with most fans in hoping to see him on lots of Sundays in 2011.
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ReplyDeletedo you know the statistical strong points of Tiger's game ?
per moneygolf, and shot link analysis thru 2008 by columbia professor - it's long iron play (150-220 yds) and medium-long putts (7-21 ft)
frankD
ftlauderdale so FLA