I watched the final 36 holes (it actually was only 29 holes) of the Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday. Tiger Woods vs Stewart Cink. Two pros going at it, trying to win one hole at a time. I mean, Stewart Cink isn't a chump. He joined the PGA tour in 1995, one year before Tiger. He has staying power, he has won before and he is a professional golfer. But yesterday, Tiger made Cink look like a child on the course. Tiger beat Cink by 8 holes with 7 left to play. That means that Woods was up by so many holes that they ended the final round 7 holes early because it was impossible for Cink to catch up.
We have heard it said, but if it hasn't sunk in yet make sure you dwell on it. We are watching the most dominant athlete of any sport all-time. Sure Jordan had athletic abilities that no one else had, and Gretzky dominated a sport from the start to the end of his career. But Tiger has won with ease, especially over the last 9 months. Golf looks more and more like the Tour de France. They play 3 rounds, Tiger is up and on Sunday he just rides into the 18th green and takes the trophy. The problem is, golfers are supposed to be challenged on the final day, its not just a relaxing round to cruise through. Lifting Tiger up this much is tough for me to do, because he is apart of the "Furd." But when I see someone absolutely tear apart a sport and everyone who partakes in that sport, I feel obligated to recognize it.
Tiger has remained dominant because of one major thing: He somehow doesn't get tired of winning and every weekend its as if he hasn't won before and he has that newcomer drive to win for the first time. That in itself is phenomenal. Think about past Champions in every sport. Often, after a team or player wins a Championship, they become lackadaisical and lose that "I will do anything to win because I have been dreaming about it my whole life" mindset. Tiger is always craving victory and he never settles for second or for just a 1 shot victory. Its like he is a child and he simply wants to be told by his parents that he is the best and in his mind in order to do this he must destroy his opponents. Tiger is unbelievable...and I would make plans to watch him in Augusta April 10-13 because you will probably watch something very special.
1 comment:
I agree that his dominance hasn't been paralleled by any other player in any other major sport. To beat a field of 100+ professionals week after week -- with apparent ease -- is incredible. The only other athlete who might compare to Woods is Federer, but winning tennis matches is far different from winning golf tournaments.
I think your point about Woods's ability to approach each tournament with the excitement and drive of a newcomer is right on. What kind of focus and determination must that require?!
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