So there Tiger sits – in the lead after 54 holes in a major. A position he’s been in 13 times before and on each of those 13 occasions he went on to win. So it seems like it is business as usual. It’s just Tiger doing his thing. But it’s not. It’s very different this time and to be in the presence of this type of genius is an incredibly inspiring thing. He’s totally rewriting the rules – again.
Let’s look at some facts:
- He shot three eagles in three rounds at a course that we doubted we’d see many birdies on.
- Until this week he hasn’t walked a full 18 holes since his knee surgery. He has a visible limp and was clearly in a lot of pain after his drive on 15.
- Despite that pain he was four under for the last six holes.
- A wild tee shot on the first produced a double bogey – hardly the best way to set up a great round.
The overwhelming sensation was of a gladiator out there fighting and battling for the scores. A golfing warrior fighting against a much larger army. His collapse on the 15th and 17th was one of the most dramatic things I’ve seen particularly since we all know Tiger is hardly doing it for effect.
This knee surgery was regarded by many pundits as potentially a pivotal moment in Tiger’s career and obviously we can’t judge the impact from three rounds of golf. Perhaps they said this would be a stage too far for him, perhaps the knee is really going to hold him back this time and give others a chance? But who are these others? Who else out there could come back with that type of spirit? Who else ever shows this type of spirit?
It’s also clear that since he hasn’t been able to practice his full swing his short game and putting has been getting a LOT of work – a holed chip at 17 and that amazing putt at 18 are just two examples of that.
“Don’t write me off for a few years yet…”
Photo: Walter Iooss Jr./Golf Digest
Nike have a new advert on their site which I think helps to explain why his mental strength is just so strong and how something as potentially career ruining as a dodgy knee for the rest of us mortals will always be different for Tiger:
Whatever happens today I think we’ve all witnessed another little chapter in the Tiger legend. Perhaps not quite on a par with Hogan’s US Open return after his car accident but in my eyes pretty far up there. More importantly once again he has helped me re-define, in my own mind at least, what is possible and what isn’t in golf.
So much as I’d love to see Westwood win today my heart still backs Tiger.
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Shocking and awe inspiring at the same time.? Seriously? I was searching Google for johnny miller golf course and found this… will have to think about it.