This Tiger soap opera has become big turn-off
The latest episode unfolded in almost comical fashion on the last practice day before the 96th US PGA Championship, with American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson announcing to a crowded press conference that “Tiger’s not on site yet”.
Woods, in fact, had arrived at Valhalla Golf Club and would later declare himself fit to play.
Oh, praise the heavens. We can all breathe and smile and go on with our lives. Woods has graced the season’final Major with his presence.
In America, soap operas are a weekday, mid-afternoon staple, but this thing with Woods? It’s suddenly on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and, frankly, it’s become insufferable.
For the third time in five months, Woods seemed to relish the way in which he dominated the golf headlines, simply by going recluse and not saying when, or if, he’d play again.
He withdrew during the fourth round of the Honda Classic in March (conveniently, he was playing poorly and just so happened to be positioned next to a gate that provided a quick getaway), then waited three days before arriving late Wednesday to play a practice round and confirm that he’d tee it up in the Cadillac Championship.
He had a microdiscectomy on March 31, never said how long he’d recuperate, then announced in late June that he’d take part in the Quicken Loans National.
When he left the fourth round of Sunday’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (again, playing poorly and at a point on the course, the ninth hole, that provided an easy exit), Woods looked like he might never walk again, let alone play golf. Yet after three days of silence, Woods showed up at Valhalla for a practice round at the last minute, all but confirming that he was going to give it a go.
And so, with a throng of fans watching and a horde of media tagging along inside the ropes to chronicle Woods’ shots, a practice round — repeat, practice round — was covered as if it were MacArthur’s return to the Philippines.
No since the media centre assembly gave up covering the second round of the 1994 US Open to watch TV’s coverage of the chase of OJ Simpson’s auto has a golf tournament been pushed to the back-burner.
Rory McIlroy’s elevation to another stratosphere? Adam Scott’s continued brilliance? Sergio Garcia’s summer fun? Justin Rose’s steady hands? All great stories, all well deserved, but so what?
Even if Woods is a shell of his former self on the golf course, he remains confident in his ability to command the spotlight whenever he chooses.
But along the way, what arose out of the Woods soap opera was this: USA Ryder Cup Flight 2014 is riding through some severe turbulence these days.
As if it weren’t bad enough that two players captain Watson craves for his team — Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley — need massive weeks here at Valhalla to qualify automatically, one of the players that is inside the cut-off has revealed his health issues.
“I’m probably not going to be healthy until I can take six to eight weeks off. Not sure when that’s going to be,” defending champion Jason Dufner said.
If Watson’s wish were to come true this week, Mickelson and Bradley would play their way onto the team, moving out Dufner and No 9 Zach Johnson. It would leave Watson free to be flexible with a variety of options (youngsters Chris Kirk and Harris English appeal to him) and monitor Dufner’s rehab.
Should Mickelson and Bradley finish outside the top nine, no worries. Both appear likely to be captain’s picks.
Clearly, though, the biggest mess is Woods. Barring a win this weekend, he will require a captain’s pick and therein is the challenge that awaits Watson.
If Woods either misses the cut or plays poorly here, wish Watson well. Either that or hope Woods can focus on the team and not himself.
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