Friday, May 10, 2019

 

Tiger's Back!



                                                               Tiger Woods, at practice

If you are a golf fan, such as I, then you are likely following the remarkable comeback of Tiger Woods. After four back surgeries, and other countless setbacks, he has come to play. Round after round, recently, he has shown that he will be in the thick of things, likely for years to come. He pounds his drives off the tee, not always exactly where he would like the ball to go. But his drives are almost as long as anyone else on the tour, and his ball lands in a spot where he can finish each hole at par, or close to it.


One cannot argue with the fact that he has re-invigorated his game, and the fans' interest in the game. Truly remarkable fans now gather at each hole to watch him play. No doubt that television ratings have increased substantially since he began to play well. In a nutshell, those things pay the bills. No one ever suggested that Woods was on hard times when his game and his health left him. He still had his followers, and he likely had to put seven digits on his income tax form at the end of the year. Following this year's tournaments, thus far, his stock has increased substantially. His efforts are truly commendable.


He knows what he is up against on the PGA Tour. There is the usual pack of great golfers looking to lead the pack late Sunday afternoon. But there are also the upstarts, those young golfers who believe they belong, trying to put their names on silver goblets. Phil Mickelson recently won in Mexico. “Lefty” had left a message that he just isn't ready to join the Seniors Tour. I am sure that there are several players on that tour who are grateful for that. The Seniors Tour becomes more competitive each year, as the younger members of the PGA turn 50.


Along with Mickleson, there are other great players chomping at the bit to win: Bubba Watson, Ernie Ells, Stuart Cink, Charles Howell III, Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Rory, (you know his last name,) Justin Rose, Rickie, (same thing!), Jason Day, Henrik Stenson, Jordan Spieth....It is a long and hungry list. And you can include a few Canadians in that pack: Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Graham DeLaet, Ben Silverman and Corey Conners.


And then there is that list of fine pros who are not exactly household words, just yet. Bryson DeChambeau, Sam Burns, John Huh, Grayson Murray, Ryan Moore, Sam Horsfield, Tommy Fleetwood, to name just a few. That is also a very long list.


But any week, when all of the stars are perfectly aligned, when one's biorhythms are ready, any one of these guys can step up to the little white ball and reach the podium. Most golf fans are looking forward to the first major tournament, The Masters, in early April. As I write, they are rolling the greens and clipping the fairways on that pasture in Georgia. It was not too long ago that a young Canadian who also hits from the south side, came to the fore and won the Green Jacket. His name is Mike Weir, and he is easily Canada's best recognized golfer at this time.


Last Sunday, Rory won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in style. He had five birdies on the last six holes to win by three strokes. Tiger got within one stroke of the lead on the back nine, but faltered down the stretch. He did crank up one drive, measured at 375 yards, on one of those holes. That would send a message to the rest of the players.


It won't be long before some of you will be enjoying the great game of golf, all over the world!

James Hurst
March 19, 2019


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