Tiger Owes Us Nothing

Who do we think we are?

Since 1997, (or 1994 if you really know your stuff) Tiger Woods has been one of the premier entertainers on the planet. He may be a golfer first and foremost, but for us, he’s a guy we love to watch do his thing. His exceptional physical talent and terrifying mental powers have made him the greatest athlete of our generation, and he has delivered, time and again, providing us with some of the greatest sporting moments in history.

So where do we get off looking for apologies for his behaviour off the course? How exactly has he let us down? He’s let himself down. He’s let his family down. Maybe he’s let his sponsors down. But us?

It never ceases to amaze me how arrogant the sports-watching couch potatoes can be. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to shout angry and helpful advice at Johnny Sexton when he pushes a kick wide of the posts.

Nowadays, however, viewers seem to feel a sense of ownership over Tiger, Federer, O’Driscoll, and others. By watching Tiger, do you own some of the Tiger brand? If you do, I’d say sell it and live on the proceeds for the rest of your life.

I was upset when I heard the revelations about his private life, because I’m a massive Tiger fan. But did I feel betrayed? Did I demand an apology? I don’t have that high an opinion of myself.

Tiger Woods owes us nothing. People will climb on to higher horses than they’ve ever imagined and tell us that it’s us who have put Tiger where he is – without us he wouldn’t be the star of sport, without the viewers he’d be nothing. So ask yourself this – did Tiger come to the viewers looking to be watched? Or did we go to Tiger, because we were beginning to realise that the man in the red shirt was the most exciting prospects in the history of sport? Did we go to him, following the human instinct to cling to something special and not let go?

In 2005, on the 16th hole at Augusta National, Tiger Woods hit what was, given the circumstances, the greatest golf shot I have ever seen. With Chris DiMarco lying 12 feet away for birdie, Tiger faced a horrendously difficult chip shot, the ball against the collar of the rough, the green sloping every which way. No one who watched that shot live can forget the second the ball spent on the lip of the hole, with the Nike swoosh looking out at us, in the greatest advertisement ever made, before it toppled in to the cup.

So what was your reaction? Was it to nod calmly, and say “Well I’m glad I managed to sort that one out for him”? Or was it like mine – a leap into the air followed by an animal yell, partly in excitement, and partly in pain as I crashed into a table.

Tiger’s success is not a product of our support. It is a product of his diligence, work rate, and drive to be better. It is a product of his parents’ care for him and, perhaps, too much pressure on him. He is a self-made man, and we cannot claim an iota of credit for his fame.

If you claim to be let down by his affairs, answer me this. Where were you when he was being shunned as a young black teenager in his local club? Where were you when his father died?

Even his sponsors, who do have claim to being let down – look at how much money they have pumped into him – they spotted a business opportunity and invested in it. The returns have been staggering. After 15 years of unmitigated success they now have to take some rough with the smooth.

Tiger Woods has not only changed the game for the viewers; he’s changed the game for the professionals. The PGA and European Tours today are stronger for Tiger’s contribution. Pros have to play against a phenomenon – never before has there been so much extra kudos attached to a victory when one man is in the tournament field. If you can play the great man and beat him you’re spomething special. Y.E. Yang became the first man to take a major from Tiger after Woods held the 54-hole lead – that’s not forgotten in a hurry.

Tiger Woods owes us nothing. 20 years ago no one could watch him play. 40 years from now, no one will be able to watch him play. We are the most privileged golfing generation yet – how about we stop moaning, sit back, and enjoy it.

And So It Begins...Again

The Omega European Masters is upon us in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland. Just another tournament on the Tour to the ignorant, this is one of the highlights of the year for true golf fans. It's the week when it all begins to matter again, when the clock is started again. 51 weeks from Sunday evening we will know the 12 members of Europe's Ryder Cup team for Celtic Manor 2010. Some of them may be assured of their place by Jun or July, others will have to scrap it out till the end, perhaps even relying upon Monty's 3 picks to see them through. This Sunday, 60/70-odd players will receive a paycheck to start them on their way.

The tournament can use this focus to its advantage - a strong field is assembled in the Alps, with Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Oliver Wilson just a few of the main contenders. McIlroy missed out on a maiden win here last year after missing a 2-foot putt in a playoff, after already taking 4 shots from within 100 yards on the 72nd hole. Jean-Francois Lucquin was only too pleased to capitalize on the youngster's error, and the Frenchman will be looking to find a return to form at the scene of his triumph.

McIlroy has certainly come far in the last year, moving up into the world's top 20 golfers, and picking up 3 top-20s in major championships, including a 3rd-place finish most recently at the US PGA. Although he will hope to pick up his second win of the season this week and banish the demons of last year, a repeat of last year's 2nd place would propel him to the top of the Race to Dubai standings, unless Lee Westwood (champion in 1999) takes the win.

It is remarkable to think that so young a man and so new a recruit to the professional ranks (2009 is only his 2nd full season) could be so close to being Europe's number one player, and yet it is extremely possible. He looks in good form, he obviously likes the course, and his ambition is endless. Martin Kaymer, current leader of the Race, is out for at least a month with broken foot bones, and Paul Casey (2nd place) is playing in the United States.

The Race is hotting up, and McIlroy and Westwood will look to take their chance this week to heap pressure on the absentees.

There are plenty of other likely contenders in the field this week. Simon Dyson, after a win two weeks ago, is back in action at Crans. Ever a streaky player, Dyson will be intent upon maintaining his current form to give himself a start in the Ryder Cup battle. He is a man who I have thought has the talent to make the team, but hasn't managed to put together a convincing run of form when it counts.

Darren Clarke, a favourite of the blog, has shown patches of form this year, and hopefully he'll be on song this week; unfortunate to miss out on a place in Faldo's team, the big Ulsterman will want to regain his place in a competition to which he has given so much.

Clarke's compatriot Graeme McDowell is also looking for a late kick-start to his season - after a couple of wins last year helped him into the Valhalla team, a single top-10 in 2009 has been a disappointing follow-up. He's a fiery player though, and while I don't expect him to win this week, watch out for him as the season draws to a close - I expect him to put a few points on the board before Christmas.

Bradley Dredge and Ricardo Gonzalez are also former winners in the field; Gonzalez had a fantastic win in Sweden 3 weeks ago, while Dredge has said that Celtic Manor provides an extra incentive to all of the Welshmen on Tour to try and make Monty's team.

Francesco Molinari, meanwhile, is a man to keep an eye on for the week.

Prediction? Westwood and McIlroy to both finish in the top 5, with a win for one of them. They're both excellent drivers of the ball, and so should be able to take the rewards granted by the thinner Alpine air. They've both performed well at the course before, and they're both hungry for success - McIlroy wants to show Monty what he's going to have from the outset; Westwood needs a win after a two-year drought, and will revel in the chance to head back to a once familiar spot at the top of the European rankings.

Over the coming days and weeks, we'll take a look at a breakdown of the various players in contention for Celtic Manor - who's expected to make the team, who'll surprise, and who might surprise the wrong way. We might even have a look at the Yanks.