No Glass Tiger

Whoever said golf is not a sport should probably take a good, hard look at what just happened in the recently concluded U.S. Open. Because Tiger Woods just destroyed all misguided notions about how the game can be played at its highest level by barely-in-shape men who can afford to have a drink and a cigar while actually going about their business on the golf course (see John Daly). And he did it on one good leg.

In a year where dominance across sports has been on the wane, Tiger has been the one athlete upon whom expectations bordering on the ridiculous are thrust. And, amazingly, he manages to deliver and even surpass those expectations. Roger Federer has looked mortal this year in tennis, Kobe and the Lakers just got steamrolled in a Finals where their dynasty was presumed to begin (I know, so much for my prediction), the New England Patriots finished a supposedly perfect season with a loss to the underdog Giants. You get the picture.

Tiger Woods on the other hand, not only won, but he won in the most dramatic fashion. After shooting a pedestrian 1-over par on the first day, he surged into contention with a 68 on day 2, leaving him tied for second place. On the third round, he took the outright lead with three dramatic shots, resulting in a how-the-heck-did-that-get-in-the-hole birdie and 2 from-the-parking-lot eagles. His play during that stretch was so incredible that my wife, who barely pays any attention to what I’m watching, remarked that she didn’t know golf had so much drama and featured so many great shots. You just had to see it to believe it.

The last round was hardly a coronation, as Tiger had been noticeably limping and grimacing for the past three rounds. He barely managed to get into a playoff with Rocco Mediate by holing a dramatic birdie on the final hole. And all he got for doing so was another 18 grueling holes of playoff golf the following Monday. And if you think those additional 18 holes of pain (for Tiger anyway) would finally be able to decide who the victor was, let’s just say the golf gods had another thing in mind.

Woods had to birdie the last hole of that 18-hole playoff to force another tie which ultimately led to sudden death. That’s when Mediate finally blinked with a bogey to fall to the greatest golfer of this generation and, when it’s all said and done, probably of all time. If that’s not enough to convince everyone, reports just surfaced earlier today that he will have to shut it down for the rest of 2008 because another surgery will be necessary on his left knee, the same knee that underwent arthroscopic surgery just two months ago. This time, to repair a torn ACL that he suffered last year and to rehab a double stress fracture which he got a couple of weeks ago on the same foot.

Was it worth it, playing the hero for this one major while losing the rest of the year to injury and with it, his chance to play for 2 more (British Open, PGA championship)? From a historical perspective, I’d have to say yes, simply because of how he won it.  While it did cost him half of this year, golf isn’t a sport that has a very short window of opportunity for greatness unlike, say tennis or basketball. Players typically remain competitive up to their 40’s. Mediate, for one, is 45 and he almost stole this one off Tiger. As long as Woods is able to come back with the same drive, skills, and good health next year, he’ll probably be breaking all existing professional records before he’s 35.

In contrast, this victory further cements his legacy as the best golfer on the planet (his points rating is now over double that of second ranked Phil Mickelson) and also as the toughest player both physically and mentally on the PGA tour. Plus, he now has his very own flu game. Not many all-time greats can lay claim to that. The legend just keeps on growing.