Tiger on the Prowl

To me its official, Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer I’ve ever seen. He can hit the ball out of sight. Can you recall the last time Tiger missed a clutch putt, especially in a major championship? What has put Tiger Woods as THE gold standard in professional golf was his performance last week at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Tiger proved that he is the greatest golfer ON ONE LEG. Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open with a torn ACL in his left knee and a broken leg. He did it by playing 4 rounds plus an 18 hole playoff on Monday that ended with an extra “sudden death” hole to win it. And he walked the whole way.

Are you kidding me?

That’s like Jimmie Johnson winning the Daytona 500 with 2 flat tires throughout the race. Like Kirk Gibson, who had 2 bad legs at the time, hitting his walk off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series with one arm. (And after looking at the video, I think he practically did.) Like Ron Jeremy pleasuring more than one woman during one night with one testicle.

Jack Nicklaus always said the U.S. Open is the hardest and most complete test in golf. He should know, he won 4 of them. Even the great Nicklaus had to tip his hat to Tiger. Nicklaus said, “In light of this week's revelation about Tiger's health, it makes his performance in the U.S. Open that much more phenomenal, I have always said that the U.S. Open is the most difficult and complete examination of a golfer, and for him to persevere with a damaged knee and stress fracture is a testament not only to his ability but his tremendously high level of competitiveness."

Nicklaus issued that statement after being buried by requests for a comment of this Tiger tale.

Of course the PGA Tour and the rest of the major championships, the British Open and the PGA Championship, just lost its top draw. Not to mention weakening the U.S. Ryder Cup team. U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger probably liked his chances this year at Valhalla with the #1 ranked golfer in the world on his side.

Sorry golf fans, after Tiger Woods' performance at Torrey Pines, there won’t be a curtain call. Take that in for the next time Tiger will tee off is 2009 at a site yet to be determined. But look on the bright side, that gives the rest of the field a fighting chance for the rest of the majors. But nothing can top Tiger Woods' performance at the U.S. Open.

--John Wilkerson