Something occured to me the other day.... something someone said during the PGA Championship that has been in the back of mind festering and coming to a boil... and after watching the (lovely) ladies during the Solhiem Cup, I finally had to do some checking and it finally came to the forefront.
Does Tiger need to cheat to win? Now now.. before all of the dyed-in-the-wool TW backers break out the pitchforks, torches and ropes and come to hang me from the nearest crossbeam, I would as that you just sit and have a think for a moment... Maybe this can be discussed rationally, but I doubt it. I expect by the 3rd reply this discussion will have devolved into a 3rd grade shouting match..
"Did not!", "Did too!", "Did Not!", "Did Too!", "DID NOT!!", "DID TOO INFINITY!!!!"
Someone (Fleherty perhaps) happened to notice and opine how Eldrick just 'happens' to be standing in his opponent's peripheral vision on Sundays, with his trademark blood red shirt and black pants, during the opponent's putts. Particularly during close matches. It seemed like a ridiculous statement at the time; I mean after all, we're talking about Tiger Woods for heavensake!
But then again, the more I think about it, the more it seems to be the case. Oh sure, it's not every putt, but more often than not, it seems that if it's a putt that's semi important, there he is.
Granted, if you are a professional golfer, and your name isn't YE Yang, the prospect of playing with Mr. Woods on Sunday is bad enough. We have seen a myriad of professionals wilt under the spotlight. There are those that hold their own (Rocco Mediate, et al) and those who don't (Stewart Cink lost 8&7 to Woods in Match Play). And, somewhere in the middle of those is 99% of all the professional golfers in the world....
So, why would he feel he needs to employ 'gamesmanship'? Is he that insecure? I doubt it. Does he question his ability? Not in the slightest. Was he raised that way? Absolutely not. Is it just his 'competitive edge'? He doesn't need it... he's Tiger-freaking-Woods!
It is a mystery, to be sure.
I don't have an answer to this question. I wish someone did. Perhaps only Eldrick knows the reason.
But it's there none-the-less. And, should you need recent proof, simply call up the video Yang's last putt at Hazeltine. Watch closely...
As Yang starts to bring the club back to putt, there is only one person on the entire golf course moving before he strikes the ball....
Eldrick Woods.
Ok, go ahead.. here come the flames.... 