Even hard shots are easy for Woods
By Bob Verdi
Chicago Tribune
(KRT)
LEMONT, Ill. - He concluded his week in Chicago as he began
it, with a clinic.
And when Tiger Woods completed his final full swing of the
Motorola Western Open, when his ball landed safely on the 18th
green late Sunday afternoon to confirm that school was out, hundreds
of spectators broke through the ropes on either side of the fairway.
The PGA Tour, anticipating such a surge, had conducted a crash
course of its own with marshals earlier that morning, but how
do you legislate against spontaneous combustion? Besides, this
was organized mayhem, a coronation reminiscent of how respectful
British Open galleries frame the victory lap at that ancient championship.
Only when Woods putted out for his triumph, then flung the
ball into the audience were any elbows raised, and even that scrum
was over before it was over. Tiger not only moves more people
than certain airlines; he can bring masses to an orderly and polite
halt just by showing them raw genius.
That's all long-suffering Chicago sports fans have ever asked,
honest bang for their bucks, so between Tiger and a spectacularly
efficient corps of volunteers, crowd control was no problem. Periscopes
up and quiet, please.
How fellow players propose to handle Woods is another matter.
A year ago July, he was still knocking down flagsticks for dear
old Stanford University. Sunday's conquest was his sixth in 21
professional starts. Dare we imagine what Tiger's scrapbook will
look like when he visits Cog Hill to defend in the summer of '98?
His next stop is Spain, to scout the Valderrama venue where
he'll be lead man in America's quest to wrest the Ryder Cup come
September. But first, it's the British Open at Royal Troon in
two weeks, then the PGA Championship. By April, maybe he tries
to lap the Masters field by 24 strokes instead of a paltry 12.
What's amazing about this kid is how he wears out lodge brothers
who have been beating balls since before he learned the alphabet.
Loren Roberts went up by two strokes after five holes Sunday,
only to discover he would become a stage prop. At the turn, Tiger
had him by three.
Like so many potted plants, others got in Woods' way, but only
briefly. Frank Nobilo, Justin Leonard, Steve Lowery. Might as
well have been Larry, Mo and Curly. Finally, there was Tiger's
9-iron to No. 14, a par 3 of 167 yards. His ball headed right,
toward a patch of rough, only to take a sharp left at impact and
go for the hole, as if on a string.
When Woods expressed chagrin at the fortuitous result - his
birdie birdie putt traveled all of 15 inches - one couldn't resist
recalling a bygone playoff game against Portland when Michael
Jordan went on such a binge that he just shrugged his shoulders,
almost apologizing for greatness harnessed.
But luck is the residue of design, and Woods had all the shots
Sunday, even if he doesn't use all his clubs. Roberts is an excellent
putter. However, when the kid beside you is firing wedges to your
5-irons at greens getting firmer by the minute, no course is a
level playing field.
Woods' arsenal includes the uncanny ability to out-think opponents
and a cold-blooded streak, ala Nicklaus, whereby the only place
is first place. Some pro golfers play to make a check and a select
few play to make history.
Then, when the artist completes another masterpiece, he smiles.
He fills pockets, including those of the vanquished, and moves
on to another canvass.
"If it wasn't fun," said Tiger Woods after class
was adjourned Sunday, "I'd quit."
What's scary is that these are only commencement exercises.
Elvis hasn't left the building. He just got here.
(Bob Verdi is a sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Write
to him at: Chicago Tribune, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago,
Ill. 60611.)
(c) 1997, Chicago Tribune.
Visit the Chicago Tribune on America Online (keyword: Tribune)
or the Internet Tribune at http://www.chicago.tribune.com/
Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
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