Everyone comes out for Woods
By JOHN LINDSAY / Scripps Howard News Service
BETHESDA, Md. - The most powerful figure in the golf world
at the tender age of 21, Tiger Woods spoke Tuesday. And when one
of the most famous athletes in the world speaks, people listen.
In this case, it was 250 or so media members quizzing Woods
on his chances at this week's 97th U.S. Open at Congressional
Country Club.
Such is the drawing power of Woods, who first began swinging
a golf club at six months old and broke 50 for nine holes at age
3. Golf has rarely seen such amazing promise turned into overpowering
success so quickly.
And so as the prospect of Woods' winning the U.S. Open in only
his 19th professional tournament approaches this week, even Woods'
critics have to keep a low profile.
That's because Woods has made a habit of turning the impossible
into the probable overnight. Sign a $40 million endorsement deal
with Nike before winning your first PGA tournament? That's right.
Win five of your first 18 tournaments as a pro? No problem. Set
the Masters scoring record in your first appearance as a pro?
That's 18-under, thank you.
And now even golf's unthinkable, the unprecedented Grand Slam
of victories in the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA,
is within the realm of possibility.
"I'm not going to rule out the possibility of winning
the Grand Slam," Woods said. "But it is really unlikely
when you consider how hard it is to win just one leg, let alone
four ... But it's like last year when Phil Mickelson won four
times. If you just win the right four ones, then you've done it."
That kind of caution aside, Woods knows what his goal is this
week.
"I expect to win every tournament I play in," Woods
said. "That's why I play."
There appear to be two tales for Tiger this week.
In the positive scenario, Woods' private preparations (four
days with swing guru Butch Harmon culminating with a 63 in a practice
round near Houston last Thursday) will pay off just as handsomely
as in his rout at Augusta National two months ago. And Woods says,
"I'm playing pretty good right now. I'm driving it well and
I know my iron game will come around if I drive it well because
that's what you have to do here ... And my length is an advantage
(on the 7,213-yard Blue Course, the longest open course ever)."
But in the negative one, the effects of Woods' worst showing
of the year (a next-to-last finish at the Memorial two weeks ago)
carry over on the brutish Blue layout. And any mistakes here are
likely to result in bogeys or worse, such as the double-bogey
Woods took on 17 in the final round at the Colonial three weeks
ago to fall from contention.
Judging from the monstrous crowds Woods has drawn for practice
rounds here this week, there are great expectations surrounding
him.
"I don't pay any attention to what other people say or
write about me," Woods insists. "I don't listen to others'
expectations. It has no bearing on what I do or how I prepare."
Woods openly credits many for his success, including Harmon,
his parents, and his caddie Mike "Fluff" Cowan. And
though Woods knows his life is hardly similar to that of an average
21-year-old, he has no regrets.
"There's no doubt my life is different than most people
21, especially after the Masters," Woods said. "But
then again there are some perks to being who I am. I get to travel
all around the world. I get to play golf every day, and do the
things I like to do. And, I wouldn't trade that for the world."
And though Woods says people "nit-pick" what he does
away from the course, this Tiger is becoming more comfortable
in his lair. His chats with high-profile friends Michael Jordan
and Kevin Costner have helped him find his way.
"One of the things they've both said is that no matter
what advice we give you, whether the things we've done right and
things we say could help you is that you will find your own path
that works best for you.
"And as I go through life, I'm starting to find my own
path and I'm starting to see how things are working more smoothly
within myself."
Whether that path leads to golf immortality, we might know
by Sunday.
(John Lindsay writes for Scripps Howard News Service.)
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