In my previous post, kudos were given to Jack Nicklaus for his hole-in-one at Augusta National, albeit it only in the Par 3 contest. The Golden Bear had thrilled the gallery, fellow players, and fans the world over once again.
Yet despite a magnificent career, there is no doubt that the Golden Bear's best golf has come and gone. He is more a "persona emeritus" at the Masters these days rather than a legitimate competitor. In fact, even though he's a 6-time past champion, and hence eligible to enter the current tournament, Nicklaus understands he would have ZERO chance of winning, and such a scenario might well turn out to be embarrassing. The younger guns on the tour would beat his brains out -- and he knows it. He walked away when the time was right, with dignity and his head held high.
The Golden Bear has been happily married to the same woman since forever, with nary a hint of scandal, was the ultimate pro on and off the course, and remains the all-time Major Championship winner. Would anybody seriously question Jack Nicklaus has been a model of class since he burst onto the golf scene over a half century ago? It could also be added that Nicklaus isn't exactly hurting for money either. Through various enterprises, he has scads of it.
Conversely, there is the Golden Boy. No, not Oscar De La Hoya, the former boxer, but rather golf's current version of same. Enter one Eldrick Tont Woods, sometimes referred to as Tiger.
To his credit, once upon a time ETW put together arguably the most dominant decade ever seen in professional golf. From the late 1990s to about the time a guy named Obama was gearing up for his first Presidential run back in 2008, Woods was phenomenal.
Not only was he winning everything in sight and far and away considered the best golfer in the world, there were many times wagerers would take Tiger over the entire field in any given tournament. At the time, it was astounding. Further, it was almost a given ETW would easily surpass Jack's record of 18 Major championships.
And then the wheels feel off.
Exposed as a serial adulterer, his fairy tale marriage blew up in his face and, inexplicably, for a man that appeared to be physically chiseled from granite, a rash of injuries, real or exaggerated, began taking their toll as well. It's difficult to imagine how or why a man in such great shape playing a game that merely involves strolling around lush golf courses and hitting a golf ball for a living would be susceptible to such maladies. But that's the way it worked out.
In hindsight, the decline of Tiger as a golfer began in 2008. At that point, he was only 32 years old, normally the prime of a golfer's career, and indeed won a Major tournament that year. But the fall was coming and he hasn't won a Major since. Seven years and 28 chances have gone by, and now Woods is 39. Yes, he won a tournament here and there in the interim, but his dominant era was over.
Most recently, the last two tournaments Eldrick played in resulted in a missed cut (by a lot) and an outright quit in the middle. Even Woods himself admitted his game stunk.
But Golden Boys die hard. Especially when the media keeps hyping the possibility of a miraculous comeback and legions of groupies remain steadfast in the admiration of their hero. This works for aging rock bands, but they don't have any competition when they take the stage. The PGA Tour is a little bit different.
How far has Woods fallen? He's currently ranked #111 in the world. Of course he was going to play the Masters. He's had nothing better to do than prepare himself for that one tournament over the last couple months he's been on "sabbatical". Basically, it's now or never time for him to make a statement.
But given this year's field at the Masters consists of 99 players, which is typically the most elite field of any tournament -- it could be argued that Woods is the worst of the bunch. In other words, 12 guys that are ranked ahead of him around the world got snubbed, while ETW got in.
How it will play out is anybody's guess. Eldrick might thunder down the back nine on Sunday afternoon enroute to his glorious 15th Major title.
Or, he could be the duffer we've seen of late, miss the cut by a bunch, and his fabled red shirt never makes it out of his locker for a Sunday he doesn't get to play on. Again.
One thing is certain. The viewing public will be bombarded with Tiger's every move and shot during the first two rounds. Replays, commentary, and analysis ad nauseum. Do we really need to see Woods eating a banana while other action is happening elsewhere on the course? But we likely will.
How do I know this? Because it's already started even before the tournament has gotten underway.
Just ETW showing up at Augusta National has been cause to sound the trumpets amongst the media and the hordes of hangers-on. All hail. His Highness has once again graced us with his presence. They want him to be back. They NEED him to be back. Their world just isn't right UNLESS he comes back.
Here's hoping His Highness doesn't literally translate to his golf scores on Thursday and Friday, though it's entirely possible. His once renowned "fear factor" is little more than a hope and a prayer these days -- and the other guys know it.
That messy little $100 million divorce settlement dust-up notwithstanding, ETW has scads of money too. Such sources are sometimes loosely referred to as "endorsements".
But there's a difference between a Golden Bear and a Golden Boy.
One never tarnishes.......
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