I’ve read this book before. Heck, book? It’s a blueprint – right off Woods’ nightstand.
“Day 1 – The heck with “getting to know the course” – send message with textbook execution. Try to eagle all par-5s, get one or two. Shoot 65/66. Be at or near lead.
Day 2 – Achieve separation from pack. Shoot another 65 or 66. Get two, three or even four shot lead heading into weekend. Nobody can catch me.
Day 3 – Intimidate hell out of playing partner. Make short work of field. Build 5-7 shot lead. Give writers all day tomorrow to wax eloquently about my history making, ego-stomping, downright dominating performance over world’s greatest field.
Day 4- Victory Lap in the sun. Remember to smile at (insert name of rival) who’s putting out on 18 as I’m teeing off on one. Smile for the cameras, I know they’re gonna love me. Have some champagne out of my Claret Jug. Hi, Elin! Miss me? Where’s the paper?
Go to Medinah. Lather, rinse, repeat. Is there anything on my calendar for late September?”
Look I know both Ernie Els and Chris DiMarco matched Woods’ 65. And yes, if you could name the three players least intimidated by Woods, they are, in order, DiMarco, Furyk and Els. But none of them have done it. The only guy who’s looked the Gorgon in the face and come back with the head was Darren Clarke.
No, the only way Woods loses is if his putting goes south (not likely on these flat greens or if the wind kicks up like crazy tomorrow. Then MAYBE Ernie has a shot. but can his knee, back and putter hold out?
NOTES
Talk about two exclamation points! First an eagle to end the day yesterday. (Boy dinner had to taste good). Then clanking in a 4-iron for an eagle at the par-4 14th. I mean really, who is going to catch him? Goosen???
Look – Phil collapses, Tiger finishes. Phil lets guys hang tight enough to steal one from him on 18, Tiger slams the door lang before anyone else has a chance to up the ante. Tiger is, in short, the best front runner in the game. Ray Floyd, legendary for the same talent in his generation, pales in comparison.
While GD writer Ron Whitten may have overemphasized the OB angle, that may be only because Hoylake has seen no real blustery conditions. Add in that the course is flat and the greens have pretty much the least contour of any in the Rota and it makes sense Tiger is dominating and scores are record lows. I doi agree with Whitten that Hoylake lacks the charm and quirkiness of nearby Royal Lytham. One famous architect – who will remain nameless – once said Hoylake seperated the people who truly love links golf from those that only kinda understand it.
This interesting comment can be taken two ways – maybe it means Hoylake isn’t “pretty” or “well designed” enough to resonate broadly…
…OR it could mean that it’s so GOOD in a subtle, intellectual way that it takes a true connoisseur to appreciate its intricacy.
Either way, without the wind, its defenses are laid bare. Add to that, the rough is dry and burned out so its mere thin wisps pose no problem to the wayward player. Come to Hoylake in October and watch the course become a fierce bear. In July, however golf becomes a snooker contest.
PROPS
Kudos to Jim Furyk for playing out of the bunker with a mallet headed putter.
Good recovery Adam Scott. After splashing a ball out of a bunker, but short of the green, the ball followed the terrain all the way around the bunker and re-entered the hazard behind Scott’s original position. Bloodied but not bowed, Scott got it up and down.
HEADSCRATCHER
Tiger played a 459 yard par-4 7-IRON OFF THE TEE, 7-IRON INTO THE GREEN..
Woods also reached a par-5 with 2-iron, 6-iron.
THE FUTURE
Tiger has to like the next foru U.S. Open venues. First, Tiger wins where Jack wins. Jack won at Oakmont, the site of next years U.S. Open. After that, it’s two straightforward bombers paradises with tame greens – Torrey Pines and Bethpage Black. Then it’s on to Pebble Beach – where Tiger routinely dusts everyone.
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