For Tiger Woods, the education is ongoing
By Mike Kern
Knight Ridder Newspapers
(KRT)
REDMOND, Wash. - Surely you remember Tiger Woods. Turned Augusta
National into a pitch-and-putt almost before he was old enough
to rent a car. Had people talking grand slam after his first major
as a professional. His mania runneth over. One larger-than-life
Swoosh.
Well, it turns out the guy was nothing more than a flash in
the old skillet. The 1997 Player of the Year has won only once
in the last 13 months. Billy Mayfair (Billy Mayfair?) has two
victories this season. One of those was over Woods in a playoff.
So much for all those eight-figure endorsement deals. I mean,
would you want somebody who is already in the rear-view mirror,
four months shy of his 23rd birthday, hawking your product? Maybe
he can steal a sponsor's exemption or two on the Asian Tour, where
he remains more popular than Godzilla.
No, the greatest golfer since Old Tom Morris hasn't done much
lately. Except, of course, finish in the top five just about every
time he tees it up. And earn enough cash to keep his stockbrokers
in Gucci underwear. Last month at the British Open, Woods nearly
won another major. He birdied the final two holes at Royal Birkdale
to shoot a closing 66, but missed getting into a playoff by one
shot, a playoff that was won by his good bud, Mark O'Meara. The
good news is, that was the first time Woods had been a real factor
at a major since his historic triumph at the 1997 Masters. Trouble
is, that's also the bad news.
Which brings us to the PGA Championship, the year's last major,
which begins tomorrow at tree-lined Sahalee Country Club, a course
designed for feel, not length. Tiger probably will be fortunate
just to make the cut. If this continues much longer, he might
even be forced to abdicate the No. 1 perch in the two-year cumulative
world rankings.
The Philadelphia Daily News has learned that Woods has no plans
to withdraw, to avoid any further embarrassment. The poor kid
is in so much denial that he actually thinks he can hoist the
Wanamaker Trophy come Sunday afternoon. Now imagine that.
"I've been playing pretty solid, pretty consistent,"
Woods said Tuesday in the interview tent, an invitation usually
reserved for genuine contenders. "It's a matter of putting
it all together, getting hot at the right time."
Used to be, that was rarely a concern. The great ones are measured
by the majors. Just ask Greg Norman. After a while, people don't
care how many times Tiger wins at places like Los Angeles or Dallas
or Miami. Neither do they count close calls in the majors. When
you're the next Nicklaus, that's the reality, even if your prime
figures to be a decade away.
Woods tied for 29th in his first PGA last August at Winged
Foot, where he shot 75 on Sunday to finish 17 shots behind Davis
Love III. He heads out at 8:19 a.m. Thursday, with 1988 champion
Jeff Sluman and two-time champ Nick Price.
Did we mention that Tiger tied for fourth at last week's Buick
Open? Never mind.
"I think I've got to take it as it comes," Woods
said, choosing his words judiciously. "I'm not going to put
any more pressure on myself. I've got to relax, give myself a
chance. Last year, I was guilty of being a little too rambunctious.
I've been right there in a couple of majors, especially the last
one. What's most important is not to shoot myself in the foot.
"It's a big learning curve. I know a lot more about myself,
and what works best for me; how I should conduct myself, and just
playing the game out here, at this level. I've become more well-rounded.
I'm very pleased with the progress I've made, both as a player
and as a person.
"People like to be associated with winners. In this game,
you have to win a lot. To win the majors, you've got to play well.
But you also have to have some breaks go your way. Mark won by
just sort of hanging around. And Lee (Janzen) did the same thing
(at the U.S. Open in June). They understand the patience involved.
For young guys, it just takes time."
This is the first major being held in the Northwest since World
War II. But Woods won a U.S. Boys' Junior in neighboring Oregon.
Ditto the third of his record three consecutive U.S. Amateurs,
less than two years ago. Surely you remember?
"I don't read the (press) clippings anymore," he
said. "For some reason it's been a lot easier on me that
way. I think I need to listen to myself a little more ... instead
of getting nit-picked on what I didn't do or should have done."
Even for such an advanced student, the education is ongoing.
For everyone.
(c) 1998, Philadelphia Daily News.
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