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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > April > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThere’s Tiger, then everyone else
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Augusta — You know it. His gifted but overmatched peers won’t say so directly, but they know it. Even the azaleas and the dogwoods know the inevitable is coming Sunday when Zach Johnson places a fifth green jacket around the red-shirted shoulders of You Know Who.
Tiger Woods can’t lose.
Tiger Woods won’t lose.
So, to save a little time this weekend at Augusta National, Woods’ peers should pack their bags and spikes now and drive quietly back down Magnolia Lane before the embarrassment starts.
Let’s start with what those not named Tiger Woods have to say. They’ve got to tell you that the most dominating athlete in the history of his sport really isn’t inside their heads these days. Consider Padraig Harrington’s version of claiming the grass at Augusta National is chartreuse instead of green. “I would always say, you know, when it comes to Tiger, you have to actually do your own thing and not think about it,” Harrington said Tuesday after his practice round. “It’s the only way to deal with any player. You play your own game and do your own thing. If it doesn’t come up good enough, just shake the other guy’s hands and say, ‘Well done.’ “
Nice try, Padraig, but it’s not going to work. Just like the others, Harrington has visions rattling around his head of Tiger’s fist pumping up and down after doing something great. “From another player’s standpoint, from my standpoint, he makes me want to get better,” said Zach Johnson, who isn’t just another player. He’s the defending Masters champion, and just like the others he hasn’t a chance. The primary reason Johnson fell out of the Eisenhower Tree or something to grab last year’s tournament had much to do with gusty, chilly winds, Woods’ inability to putt and a mighty dose of luck.
Now Woods is Woods again, with five victories in his past six PGA starts and nine in his past 11 tournaments overall. Johnson forced a chuckle, before adding, “[Woods] says he can get better, which is absolutely scary. I mean, I know I can. It’s encouraging. Makes you want to work harder. He’s a freak in a good way.”
Actually, he’s a freak in a Tiger way, which means his domination is self-created by combining the physical and the psychological in extraordinary ways.
Translated: Woods plays and thinks better than everybody else.
There is this talk, for instance, about somebody (OK, Woods) becoming the first guy in the modern Grand Slam era to win all four majors in the same year. Phil Mickelson is pretty good. In fact, he’s won the Masters twice. He’s also ranked No. 2 in the world behind You Know Who, and here’s what Mickelson says about anybody winning the Grand Slam: “I don’t know. I think that’s probably the most difficult feat in golf. I think that it could be pretty cool to see it done. The last tournament or two there would be some incredible pressure.”
Said Harrington, making his ninth Masters appearance, “I think you really do have to go back to the Nicklauses and the Hogans and guys like that to think of the last person who you really consider [had a chance] to win four.”
Then again, why talk about anybody winning four majors, suggested Johnson, when it’s difficult to win one? “I’m going to go into majors looking for opportunities,” Johnson said. “That’s all it is. I want to be in contention. I want to have opportunities to get in contention.”
Now contrast those timid remarks against Woods stating boldly before this season that grabbing the Grand Slam was “within reason.” Upon reflection, maybe he has changed his mind over the past few days, weeks and months.
“Nope,” Woods said quickly, with a straight face, during his interview session Tuesday. That’s the psychological thing we were talking about. His overwhelming confidence not only intimidates his competitors — whether they admit it or not — but inspires himself. Added Woods, “I mean, the reason why I said that, you have to understand why I said that, because I’ve done it before.”
Sounds good to me.
Unfortunately for Woods’ competitors, it sounds pretty frightening — whether they admit it or not.
Comments
By Clark
April 8, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Tiger is one of the greatest of all time but the field, course, weather, or luck can help one of the many other talented players win the Jacket. Tiger may be the favorite but I will take the field and win more often than not.
By David Duke
April 9, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this
Who cares about golf? That’s a game for girlie men like Queen Ken Strychnine. It’s right up there with ice puckey in entertainment value. Who cares about Tigger Woods? I know I don’t!
By Reed
April 9, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
You may want to check you math Clark. I think Tiger has won 7 of his last 8 starts and more than 50% over the last 3 years, so you’d actually lose more often than not if you took the field.
By Virginia Dog
April 9, 2008 5:59 AM | Link to this
Tiger is definitely a dominant force in the world of golf. However, his dominance tends to take away from the excitement of the game. Additionally, if he is not in a particular tournament the winner almost has an asterisk by their name that says, “Yeah you won, but Tiger didn’t play”.
By hockeyman3944
April 9, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this
Hey TM, what did you expect these guys to say? “We’re scared spitless of Tiger and I think I’ll just curl up in front of the TV on Sunday at home and watch Tiger.” ‘mon, these guys are pros and deserve every right to be out there competing. They may not have the same skill sets as Woods, but if they all thought the way you portray them, it’d be just Tiger out there in front of the adoring throngs by himself putting on an exhibition. By the way, TM, if you recall Zach Johnson didn’t just fall out of a tree, he won by an exemplary round of golf last year…and Woods was mortal that week…hey $hit happens TM! Of course Woods is the pre-eminent golfer perhaps of all time, I’ll be rooting for him, but he can’t win every time out either, as we all know, golf is a humbing game, even for gods like Woods. Let’s re-visit this issue come Monday morning next, shall we?
By agsfan
April 9, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
I will take the field this week. Watched Tiger lose drives to the right the past two days. His driving will lose the tournament for him.
By James Crumbley
April 9, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
Tiger is an unbelievable talent and a solid individual. In an era where cockiness equates to being a show boat, he shows that cockiness is simple confidence in his ability and drive to win. I love watching him play and seeing him win. Can’t wait for the Masters on TV!
By james
April 9, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
ANYBODY BUT TIGER! I am so tried of hearing and reading about how great he is. Zach and Phil sure did not buy into it the last 2 years. Just give it a rest!
By Ryan Tucker
April 9, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
The field is a good bet.
By Boots
April 9, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
If Tiger wins the Masters, the Open is at Torey Pines, a course where he has had a dominant presence.
So, he has a better than average chance of starting with two.
Adios, and run the table, Tiger!
By Kansas
April 9, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
David Duke,
Who cares whether you care about Tiger Woods? Go blog somewhere else - why did you even read the article (if you can read, that is).
James,
You wouldn’t know greatness if it hit you in your obviously empty head!
By Jim
April 9, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
“He can’t and won’t lose”??? Who continues to let you write and express opinions? You seem like a very stupid man. Your stubborn resoluteness shows how weak you are. Why make such an arrogant claim about a sporting event? Is that what you said about the Pats? Did you happen to witness the last two days at Doral this year? Remember Tyson v. Douglas?
By The Alpha Male
April 9, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Dear Terence:
Tiger is good.
Duh.
Thanks for the insightful article. How much do you make again?
By Ben
April 9, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
HEY If the rest of the field call themselves professionals…They need to step up their game. Enough said! Please don’t whine about millionaires who can’t win against Tiger. Yes golf use to be a humbling game until, YOU KNOW…TIGER …He’s changed the landscape. No pun intended.
By Oneiron
April 9, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
It’s an unbelievable feat to win the grand slam. TW has the talent, but so many things affect the results, I don’t think he’ll do it. Some guy shoots a career round, TW gets a sore shoulder picking up the baby, a camera goes off in his backswing, etc, etc.
By JJ
April 9, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
I like Tiger. He is the best golfer in the world. However, he is overstated and overphotographed. I’m sick of Tiger, Tiger, Tiger everywhere.
By JJ
April 9, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
How about this TM? If Tiger wins you keep your job. If not, you leave the state forever?
By Terence Moore
April 9, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Oneiron brings up a good point. There are so many things that go into winning a game, a match, a race, a tournament or anything else.
It’s just that Tiger has this ability to overcome all of that.
One of the most intriguing things I’ve ever heard involving sports is what Hank Aaron told me the other day. Hank said that Tiger is the most dominating athlete of all-time, and I agree.
He wins, and he intimidates. That’s why it would be absolutely shocking if he doesn’t win on Sunday.
By Tee Time
April 9, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
TM we all know why you like Tiger. Oh and they don’t wear spikes anymore. Tiger is the best golfer in the world there is no argument there, but I personally don’t like him because of his aditude. He makes a bad shot he blames somebody. Somebody picked there nose in his back swing. I know what is like to hear something in your swing and he is a pro golfer he should be able to ignore it. If he can make some of the shots he makes and mean the unreal ones then he can make a shot with people taking a pictures. It comes with being the best golfer. He does not win the Masters this year.
By Chess
April 9, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Terrence good topic. However your presentation lacks creativity. Did you really want to write this. First of all that course is hard. That makes The Masters hard. I would have taken this approach..Tradition..Course…Players..Tiger. Damn. Take a peek at the first (The Tea olive)455 par 4. Its narrow and long. Those sand traps would eat my calloway golf balls. This is what us golfers like to read. Golf talk.
By Moore is an idiot
April 9, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Thank you Terrence for stating the obvious. Do you think you can write a column about something that everyone already knows and look like you know what you are talking about? You talk about other golfers like they have no chance but year after year someone beats Tiger in one or more of the majors and other golf tournaments. Do me and everyone else a favor and learn that noone, not even Tiger, can master the game of golf and noone ever will. Until then write about such things as reverse racism which Im sure any AJC reader would consider you a professional.
By Gordon
April 9, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
I think what Tiger did in 2000/2001, holding all 4 at the same time, was more difficult than winning them in a calendar year. The reason I say that is because he did it over a 10 month time span, as opposed to a 4 month time span for the traditional Grand Slam. In recent memory, Nicklas came the closest in 1975 finishing 2 strokes out of a U.S. Open playoff and one stroke out of a British Open playoff while winning the other two. If Nicklas can come that close, Tiger can definitely do it because he is better. It will be fun to watch him try in the next few years while he is in his prime. My guess is he won’t, but you can never put anything past Tiger.
By David Lee
April 9, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Terence, you are a talentless HACK. Bring something to the table and stop writing something obvious.
By David
April 9, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Tiger will be the best golfer ever. There is no arguing that point. He is an awesome talent that is fun to watch. However, I must say that watching any tournament with him playing (other than a major) is boring as we really already know the outcome. Bay Hill was a welcomed exception to that rule. It was great to see the tournament come down to 18 with him winning on a great putt from 25-30 feet. The Masters, as always, promises to be a great tournament and he is not guaranteed the win, but he is certainly the favorite. I’m glad it’s finally here…
By hatfieldgeoff
April 9, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Hey Terrance, how about using some imagination and come up with an idea for a column. You’ve just blown the lid off of the whole Tiger Woods is the most dominant player in golf story. This column could have been written 5 or 6 years ago, oh yeah, that’s right, it was written back then. I know the AJC has their hiring quotas, but there are hundreds of black columnist in this country that could make a contribution about meaningful issues in sports and not be lazy and keep writing on the same ideas that others did much earlier and better.
By BigGriff06
April 9, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
I hope your comment isn’t suggesting that mediocre athletes are more exciting to watch than those that are the very best at what they do! Most true sports fans enjoy seeing the very best athletic performance possible, by the very best athletes regardless of the sport! Better individuals make the entire field of athletes better regardless of the sport!
By Tony C
April 9, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Hey Terence, is 11 under on the par fives and a solid back nine on Sunday luck to win a major. All the players were playing the same conditions last year and Zach handled it the best.
I agree Tiger is the best of this generation, but it is not luck when someone beats him. Give credit where credit is due.
By AGF
April 9, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
In golf, players play the COURSE and not other players. The fact that Tiger is the most dominant player now will make his fellow competitors rise to the occasion. To that end,if you want to call the winner, look at the invitee list. There is a huge International presence which the Masters is known for. An International golfer will defeat Augusta National (not Tiger) this year!
By KJill
April 9, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
… and the Truth shall set them free (and send them home winless)… Amen, Terence, Amen !!
By Keeping It Real
April 9, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
I just came back fron the practice rounds at Augusta. Got up and close to Tiger on the 14th hole on Monday. Tiger was playing with O’Meara and another golfer. Tiger had just hit his approach shot on the green when out from the side out of no where comes Stuart Appleby rolling balls on the green checking speed and breaks. Tiger sees Appleby and they start joking back and forth between them with lots of laughter. Obviously the head games had commenced.
I also saw Mickelson, VJ, Scott, Leonard, Weekly, Watson, Holmes and several others. Outside of VJ, Appleby, O’Meara and Chopra, none of them were as loose as Tiger. Phil has lost some weight, but he is having trouble with his putting and short game. You could see it on his face as he pitched and puttes d at the four pin replacements(tees) set for Thursday through Sunday.
I am a big Tiger fan. I can say with all honesty that he intimidates the hell out of his compeititors. You should see their faces when he walks by on an adjoining fairway with the crowds and media in tow. He actually beats the other players before he tees it up. It is an awesome thing to be in the presence of the best golfer (physically and mentally) to have ever played the game.
By Bobby Jones
April 9, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Woods said, “I’ve done it before”? I don’t think so. Tiger Slam isn’t the same thing as winning all 4 in one calendar year. And it won’t happen now.
By Bobby Jones
April 9, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Hey “Keeping It Real”, you’re a joke. Does the thought of tigger make you have night sweats?
By NRBQ
April 9, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Tee Time
Don’t blog in ignorance.
If you actually followed golf, you’d know that pros do wear spikes, and that Phil and Vijay had a dust-up a couple years back in the Augusta club house when Singh complained that Phil’s spikes were too long.
By Mac McLemore
April 9, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
The better and tougher question is - “Who will take second place?” Folks, this is a tournament for second place, not first?
By Keeping It Real
April 9, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
This is for…… AKA Bobby Jones. If you ever played any sport compeitively, you would know about the importance of the intimidating factor. If you do not think Tiger intimdates, then you are obviously a sideline person. You would have to be there to fully appreciate it. TV does not even come close.
By JJ
April 9, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
There are golf “fans” and there are “Tiger” fans. Many, maybe most, are not the same.
By Clark
April 9, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
Reed,
Do the major math. Regular events and world golf championships are the salary. Majors are the bonus. 13 out of 44 is a .295 avergage which will go down over the course of time. There is no doubt he is the most dominant player maybe ever but if he is the best then I will take the 70% odds against.
By hatfieldgeoff
April 9, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
I have nothing against Tiger’s displaying confidence, more power to him. I just wish he would take some of that confidence with him to the Ryder Cup. He plays the Ryder Cup like his Sunday playing partners do in the majors.
By Clark
April 9, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Reed,
Major math, 13 of 44 equals a .295 winning percentage. I’ll take the 70% against……
By DP
April 13, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
Terence the Idiot begins Masters week with “Tiger can’t lose. Tiger won’t lose.” So Tiger doesn’t win and does Moore issue a mea culpa? Of course not, he throws a tantrum worthy of a two year old: “Immelman win was a fluke.”
Why not just stop playing the tournaments and give them all to Tiger? Or just let Tiger play them as one man exhibition matches.
Or better yet, why doesn’t the AJC fire Terence Moore and find somebody who’s willing to put more than an hour a week into the job? No wonder the AJC’s circulation is dropping like a rock.