With The Nelson leaving Irving does Tiger return?

Now that Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan are no longer with us, Tiger Woods no longer has any reason to come to Texas to fake his way through a couple of tournaments he never wanted to play.

The most celebrated/interesting golfer in the world hasn't played one of the four major PGA tournaments in Texas - San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth or Irving - since he missed the cut at the EDS Byron Nelson tournament in May of 2005.

Mr. Nelson died in September of 2006, and the tournament that bears his name has not been the same since. The same thing happened to Colonial after Ben Hogan died.

Perhaps Tiger will return to The Nelson now that the tournament has officially announced it will leave for the Trinity Forest Golf Course, beginning in 2019.

(Above is a picture of a lactating-Tiger relaxing on a yacht with his new GF, Linday Vonn.)

By the time Trinity Forest hosts its first PGA event, Tiger will be 43. Maybe his attitude about playing in the great state a Texas will have softened. Maybe. Possibly.

Tiger may behave like a boorish, bullying rear-end, but he does make golf more interesting. He is simply impossible not to watch.

By the time he is 43 he could have just about every major PGA record that ever existed, and more money than he could set fire to, so the the drive to play the Nelson again is a long shot.

But since he is not coming to San Antonio, Houston or Fort Worth, the new location for the Nelson may be Texas' only chance to see Tiger again.

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The ideal endings for Tiger Woods

Now that Tiger Woods has a new blonde who looks nothing like his ex, he has regained his stroke. Wow … just so many pun possibilities.

He is doing cute commercials with Arnold Palmer.
He is Facebooking cute pix with his new GF, that skier girl who once had a cameo on Law and Order before she shredded her knee in a really cool wipeout on the slopes.
He is also winning.

No one is more excited about Tiger’s three PGA wins in 2013 than the sports media, which has announced that the biggest name in golf is baaaaack. When Tiger wins, golf wins. There is an agenda to push (and pray) that the biggest name in golf returns to his Michael Jordan like dominance because he moves product. 

He’s not back until he is lapping the field in a major. Today, Tiger takes to Augusta National in an attempt to embarrass the other golfers of the world and remind them – you may be Rory or Phil, but you’re not me. He apparently is going to win this tournament by 55 strokes, or something.

My hope for Tiger is that he regains his relevance by winning the tournaments most of the masses don’t watch, and then gags in the final round of each and every major hereafter. That would be great theater.

This is not an aimless hope that Tiger never reaches that majors record, or some deserved karmic comeuppance for his personal life. His personal life is personal, and I simply don’t care.

This is more about a man who fakes humility, is insulted when he isn’t treated with the Tiger double standard, acts like a spoiled brat on the course and politely extends a silent middle finger to those who don’t kiss the ring.

It's all about Tiger, and screw the game, the PGA and, while we're at it - you, too.

This is a man who while he pays homage to the names before him like Arnie and Jack, acts as if he is better than those men. It feels insincere and forced. Maybe he is just a socially awkward man/nerd whose entire existence has been golf and little else.

Like everyone, I will remain intrigued as long as Tiger is relevant because he is Tiger. But my hope is that while Tiger wins a few here and there that the big ones have the final say. As big you as you are, the green and the rough will always get their way.

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Another reason to not like Tiger Woods, & why Jack's major record looks safe

The most entertaining aspect to the U.S. Open is always watching the world's best golfers reduced to weekend hacks.  This now includes Tiger Woods, who once again proved what I have been saying for years: The old Tiger is gone.

In his place is still a great golfer, and an impressively arrogant man who is growing very, very, very hard to like. Watch? Hard not to watch Tiger. Like? Hard to like Tiger.

After his round on Friday at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Tiger was asked about the play of amateur Beau Hossler, who became a media hit throughout the weekend.

Tiger said: "Well ... long way to go. I kinda experienced that myself (as am amateur) at Oakland Hills - same deal, first round. (I) made a few mistakes after that and I think he made a few mistakes as well."

That's nice. When Tiger was the hot mateur, all of the established pros said nice things but now that he is the established pro he chooses to be arrogant and glib.

Hossler finished a plus-9, 289 for the four days, two shots back of Woods.

If Tiger chooses to be an arrogant so and so and behave like a brat on the course, that's his right. I have no problem with that. But don't fake the Mr. Nice Guy who is now trying to reach out to a fan base that adored him when, in reality, you'd much prefer keep their distance and allow you to live the life of celebrity without its hassles.

Woods will turn 37 in December, and his run on Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles is slipping with every tournament. Tiger has 14, and you would think he needs to get this done in the next few years. Winning a major after 40 can't be expected.

He is scheduled to play the British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England on July 19. Can't like his chances there. Despite his dominance, Tiger has never won the British (at that course). He's won the British at other courses three times.

Between that tournament and the end the time he turns 40, barring injury, he will have 18 more Majors to play to tie Jack.

Tiger wasn't won a Major since the 2008 U.S. Open.

He may one or two more, but given his play and his advancing age 18 seems unrealistic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fort Worth's Cole Howard joins Bubba & Vijay to miss the cut at the U.S. Open

Little known Cole Howard of Fort Worth, Texas can take comfort that in his very first major golf tournament he joined the ranks of Ben Crane, Vijay Singh and Bubba Watson to also not make the cut this weekend at the U.S. Open.

Howard, 26, made the Open with a solid finish at sectional qualifying event a few weeks ago. He has been a "minor" league golfer scratching out checks on the smaller tours in hopes of eventually moving his way up.

Unfortunately, The Olympic Club in San Francisco tore him up as it did so many other professional golfers.

Howard shot an 80 on Day 1 and an 84 on Day 2 to finish plus-24. His total score of 164 is second-to-last.

Still a great story.

 

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Colonial's par-3 13, home of the caddie race, is much easier without a crowd

FORT WORTH - Should you frequent The Crowne Plaza Colonial PGA event this weekend, and stop by the par-3 13th "party" hole, please know this is not an easy shot.

This hole, known for its cadddie races, and alcohol-infused crowd, looks like an easy reach.

The first picture is from last month, when I tried to ace it. Nice, clean, open ... should be within no more than 5 feet of the pin.

The second picture was taken from the spot where my impressive tee shot landed.

As you can see by the photo:

a.) The wind was brutal.
b.) The club of choice was junk.
c.) The golf ball was defective.

How would this shot have fared had my invitation to participate in this tournament not been lost in the mail?

As you can see by the third and final picture, taken today from roughly the same spot where my original tee shot landed, I would have been just fine ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Colonial PGA event has reached out to Bubba Watson

Many thanks to the good people at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth for its annual "wide open" tournament on Monday that allows horrendous hacks such as myself the chance to tear up their prize course. I think I shot a 68. Maybe a 70 ... plus or minus 30 or 32 strokes.

The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is May 21 to 27, and right now the field does not include Tiger or Phil, Rory or a Bubba.

The field does, however, include eight of the top 30 players in the world, including No. 5 Hunter Mahan.

Who are we kidding? Golf tournaments these are validated by Tiger or Phil. Unless something dramatically changes those guys aren't coming. Bummer.

Could a Bubba, though? Colonial is trying to land Bubba Watson.

The recent Master's champion, who by name alone - not to mention his emotional celebration after winning that title - has made him a hot golf item, has played Colonial before. He and his wife very recently adopted a baby, and he has said he doesn't want to play too far from his Florida home in the early stages.

The tournament has reached out to Bubba to tell him if he played Colonial he would not be asked to join any peripheral event. Basically, all he has to do is play.

Never hurts to ask.

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Tiger Woods is never coming "back" but this version is more entertaining

Watching Tiger Woods throw a few tantrums, kick his golf club, drop a few curse words and generally behave like a frustrated hack at sacred Augusta was easily more entertaining than watching him throw down a fist pump after making a 35-foot putt uphill. 

It's great theater watching Humility have her way with Tiger on a course. This level of forced humility, on the course, Tiger has to deal with now makes him more interesting to watch. The same guy that forced designers to tear up their courses now struggles for even par along with Bill Haas, Scott Stallings and everyone whose names you likely may not know. 

Tiger finished this latest Master's a plus-5, behind Jonathan Byrd, Nick Watney and Jason Dufner.

This is not on Tiger's former swing coach.

People thought after Tiger won the Bay Hill last week that Tiger was back. That win was his first since 2009. Sorry. The Tiger that embarrassed the field is gone, forever. In his place is just another world-class golfer, who will sometimes win but most of the times won't.

Like everyone else I fell for Woods in that his dominance was so overwhelming and so impressive it was nearly impossible not to watch. Never once did I feel like cheering for Tiger. Something about his other-wordly arrogance just turned me off. So little he projected felt real or genuine, and it always seemed as if he was rubbing it in people's collective face.

Tiger knew he was better than his peers, but somewhere along the way he forgot he was not better than the game. This game, perhaps more than any other, eventually humiliates everyone who has dared try it.

Tiger's personal stuff is his personal stuff, and none of our business. I simply do not care because it was never intended for public consumption.

Tiger's game, and on the course behavior, are. His brattish antics are nothing new; not quite on the same level as a John McEnroe but they are certainly far beneath some of the greats Tiger is routinely mentioned with - Arnie, Jack, etc.

Tiger's life, from his youth to today, follows such a unique story arc it's nearly impossible not to watch. This is not like rooting for a guy to fail; he has achieved a level of success and security playing a game most of us will ever know.

You may long for the days of Tiger the Great, where he lapped the field with an arrogant smirk. That was interesting. Watching a course reduce this guy to just being another guy is great fun, too.

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Colonial director believes Tiger Woods will return to Texas

The Master's is back, which means somewhere CBS announcer Jim Nantz is on the verge of tears. The guy always sounds like he is about to cry when announcing this tournament.

How is El Tigre doing? Mr. Woods is done with Day 1 and he finished with an even 72. Bogeys on 17 and 18 cost him a minus-2. What a hack. The best score of the day is a minus-3.

As much as I find rooting for Tiger nearly impossible (that's another column) it's no secret he is great for the grand game of golf. He creates interest in the game of golf for those who usually are not interested. It makes me a little tired that he will not come back to Texas to play in the Shell Houston Open, the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, The Nelson in Dallas or The Colonial in Fort Worth.

Does Tiger not know we have a Chili's here, too?

Colonial hasn't hosted Woods in forever, and once Mr. Byron Nelson died Woods has not returned.

Selfishly, I would prefer to see Woods return to Colonial only for convenience sake. At this point, however, I will take Woods at any of the four in Texas.

Michael Tothe, the director of the Crowne Plaza Invitational al Colonial, believes Woods will return one day.

"I do. I do," he told me today. "I would love for him to come play Colonial. We we love for that opportunity. There have always been a lot of great players on the PGA Tour, and there are more now than ever before, but there is still no doubt when Tiger is in your field he adds all the more buzz.
"If he doesn't play Colonial, I would want him to support one of the other three tournaments in Texas. You have to optimistic he will come back to Texas."

Hope he's right.

 

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