Once again, golf is must-watch TV
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2009 7:35 PM
I have to admit, I didn’t think he’d make the putt. Yeah, yeah, I know. Stupid of me to doubt that Tiger Woods could hit a little 12-footer with the match on the line, especially at Bay Hill with Arnie himself watching from inside the ropes at greenside.
But admit it. A lot of you didn’t believe he’d do it either. You couldn’t have. The guy had his knee rebuilt last June. He’d played just twice coming into Bay Hill, and all he had to show for it was a ninth-place finish. His putting was off. He’s still shaking off the rust. Yes, he’s great, but he’s not Superman. Is he?
I’ll answer that rhetorical question. The answer is no, he’s not Superman. He’s better. Superman had Kryptonite to keep him humble. So far, nothing’s been discovered that can slow down Woods.
Anyway, when that tournament-winning putt dropped in the heart of the cup and Tiger went into his hug-a-caddy routine and old Arnie grinned with delight and the gallery busted a lung roaring its astonishment, my reaction went along these lines: “Holy bleeping blank. I don’t bleeping believe this blankety-bleep.” I imagine that Phil Mickelson, watching at home, said something similar.
With more vigorous words substituted for the blanks and bleeps, that’s the email I fired off to the guy I was trading messages with down the stretch – once it was clear UNC was going to paste Oklahoma, and we were free to switch to Tigervision. Would Sean O’Hair choke?
Would Tiger’s missed tee shot on 17 doom him? Would he make that putt for his 66th lifetime win?
O’Hair kinda choked on the back nine. But he got the par he needed at 17 to regain a share of the lead. And he did nothing wrong on the 18th, hitting a good drive and a good approach. He just neglected to make his putt with Tiger staring at the 12-footer that would win it.
In any of the past 10 years, I would have given it to him. In match play, I’d probably say, “Pick it up. It’s good,” because with him, it’s always good. But it’s more than nine months since that win at Torrey Pines and the eight months without playing that followed. Nobody, not even Woods, should be able to get all the way back that quickly.
I don’t know what the rest of the Tour feels about it. I suspect it’s a mixture of awe, envy and despair. But I know what golf fans think about the latest miracle finish for Tiger: Golf is must-watch television again.
And one more thing: Welcome back, Tiger. And thanks for reminding us why we missed you.
