Thought for the Day:
If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?
Backing Tiger now that Tiger’s back with his back?
Tiger Woods hasn’t won a major in six years, has played only once since his back surgery earlier in the year (and missed the cut) and yet you can bet on him to win The Open, which starts next week at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), at ridiculous odds.
When I last looked, Ladbrokes had him at 12-1 (second favourite behind Rory McIlroy who was 10-1). CBS Sports has him as 11-2 favourite (sorry, ‘favorite’); BetVega has him top of the list at 7-1 (although with them he has since drifted to 20-1) and Sky Bet puts him joint second favourite at 16-1 (again behind Rory McIlroy, who was 12-1).
There seem to be three reasons for the bookies’ confidence. First, Tiger won the last time The Open was played at Hoylake, in 2006, hitting his driver only once in 72 holes. Two, despite missing the cut two weeks ago at his own event, the Quicken Loans National, he pronounced himself fit, with no back twinges, and happy about the state of his game. Third, he’s Tiger Woods.
Well, the fact that he’s defending venue champion is immaterial – 2006 is a long time ago and there have been a lot of Titleists dumped into water hazards since then. Second, Tiger’s driving remains (not surprisingly), woeful. As David Feherty said not too long ago, he couldn’t hit the ocean from the deck of an aircraft carrier. But that’s not the point. Tiger hasn’t stopped winning majors because of his driving, which was always erratic, to say the least, but because of his short game. He no longer holes those crucial 10-20 footers when he has to, which puts additional pressure on the rest of his game. Third, he isn’t Tiger Woods any more – or at least, not the Tiger Woods who racked up 14 major wins.
Redemption
And Michelle Wie isn’t Michelle Wie any more – or at least, not the Michelle who flattered to deceive, whose press coverage was measured by the acre rather than column inch but who nevertheless found ever more enterprising ways not to win. It was great to see her lift the Women’s US Open trophy at Pinehurst, her second victory of the season (and 4th of her career). The real measure of how far she has come is that on the last day of the US Women’s Open she double-bogied the 16th, to fall back dangerously close to the pack but then immediately birdied the penultimate hole, to restore a two-stroke cushion.
She has been part of the golfing landscape for so long that we have to remind ourselves that she’s still only 24.
But if her earlier traumas weren’t warning enough, how irresponsible is the USGA for allowing Lucy Li to play in a major at the age of 11? The American Junior Golf Association won’t allow competitors until they’re aged at least 12 but the USGA has presumably got its sights on a promising foetus. The fact that Lucy was preternaturally poised and mature is not the point – many who follow her will not be.
You cannot be serious
Incidentally, while an 11-year-old prodigy was included in that US Women’s Open field, an 18-year-old of proven ability and pedigree was not. Charley Hull, the best young player in Europe, who played such an important part in last year’s Solheim Cup win (which included thrashing Paula Creamer 5&4 in the singles), did not play in the US Women’s Open. In addition to that Solheim Cup she had quite a debut season in 2013 – she played 15 times, had 10 top-10 finishes and was runner up in five consecutive events. Oh, and at the time of the US Women’s Open she was at the top of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit (where she remains). Just as importantly, she’s one of the most exciting prospects in golf. It would have been nice if she could have received an invitation is all I’m saying.
The price of (moderate) success
Hunter Mahan and his wife Kandi (where on earth do Americans get these spellings from?) are selling their north Dallas property for $9.5 million. It includes a 12 car garage, indoor basketball court, recreation room including a golf simulator, wine cellar, elevator and three distinct living areas.
Hunter Mahan turned pro in 2003, has five US Tour career wins and is ranked 46th in the world.
Share the love
Bubba Watson is a man of moderate, you might say everyman tastes. After winning his second Masters in April he decided to celebrate at a Waffle House, one of a chain of fast food restaurants. He left a tip of $148. Mind you, that doesn’t put him at the top of the generosity tree – that honour attaches to Phil Mickelson, who has been regularly known to tip locker room assistants $1,000 at the end of a tournament week when he has won. That’s another way in which he’s different to Tiger, then.
Quote of the Week
No power on earth will deter men from using a ball that will add to the length of their drives
Golf Illustrated (1902)