Not exactly a revelation I know but Tiger Woods has shown exactly why he is the best golfer of all time.
After the disappointment of losing out at the US Masters in April the world number one underwent knee surgery. In the two months since he had not completed 18 holes until the opening day of the second major of the season, the US Open at Torrey Pines.
Clearly still struggling with his injury, shown by the grimaces and winces after a number of shots, Tiger battled through a tough first day and an unusually inconsistent front nine on Friday. However, all hell broke loose after that!
Woods pushed a tee-shot at the 1st, his 10th, and had to play his second shot from a cart path. After impant Woods' damaged left leg slid and clearly the injured knee was tweaked. He limped his way up the fairway before promptly putting all concerns about the injury to one side and draining a twisting 25-footer for a birdie three.
The blue touch paper had been lit...
At the next Woods secured his second successive birdie with another superb putt, before being unfortunate not to be left with a tap-in at the tricky par three third, his 12th, before leaving a 20-footer in the jaws of the hole.
Not to worry though for Tiger, the next yielded yet another glorious birdie as all thoughts of his left knee trouble diminished and he continued his run of successive three's by adding a fifth immediately with another monster putt down the slope at the fifth.
Even the driver seemed to working properly by this point and the quality of golf on show all around the San Diego course was becoming completely and utterly enthralling. The enigmatic home-town favourite Phil Mickleson was finding a few birdies of his own as he tried to keep up with a charging Woods.
Inexplicably Woods failed to make a birdie at any of his next three holes as putts began to slide by the edge of hole rather than into the centre of the cup but the par-five 9th was to come.
Tiger casually drove hs ball ovedr 337-yards straight down the fairway before flying his fairway metal all of 280-yards to leave himself with a makeable chip for eagle, and an inward nine of just 29. Surely not?
Believe it or not...he was in fact out of miracles and out of luck for the day as the ball came to rest a few feet left of the cup and he had to settle for a birdie and a round of 68.
However, the damage has been done. Woods is well and truly in contention, his name is on the leaderboard, everybody knows it and most of all, so does he.
Showing posts with label Torrey Pines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Torrey Pines. Show all posts
Friday, 13 June 2008
Thursday, 5 June 2008
IS TIGER READY?
Tiger Woods is still recovering from knee surgery as the draw for the first round pairings at US Open - the second major of the season - is made. So the question must be ask, is the greatest player in the game's history ready to claim his 14th major or is he back too soon?
Before the US Masters there was talk of a Grand Slam for the world number one in 2008 - of course that dream disintegrated when Trevor Immelman claimed the title at Augusta in April - now there are doubts as to if he will even see out the season. Tiger's third operation on the same knee in recent years is perhaps a sign of a chronic problem, will it affect his hunt of all of Jack Nicklaus's records?
On a brighter note for the man who seems to have everything - gorgeous wife, new born child, more money than he could ever spend and the admiration of millions of golfer and non-golfers around the world - this year's US Open is at one of his favourite venues.
Woods has already won at Torrey Pines this season when he cruised to an eight shot victory in the Buick Invitational and he has won six times there in the past - including each of his last four.
Before suffering the injury to his troublesome left knee Woods was - to all intents and purposes - untouchable. At the Buick nobody could get near him from the start of Thursday to the final putt on Sunday. Tiger was at his dominating and imperious best that week but he enters the US Open a wounded animal in more ways than one.
Not only is his knee still potentially a little short of full fitness but the elusive Grand Slam slipped away in his last outing. However, you know what they say about facing wounded animals!
Would you back Tiger this week? Or is your money going elsewhere?
Before the US Masters there was talk of a Grand Slam for the world number one in 2008 - of course that dream disintegrated when Trevor Immelman claimed the title at Augusta in April - now there are doubts as to if he will even see out the season. Tiger's third operation on the same knee in recent years is perhaps a sign of a chronic problem, will it affect his hunt of all of Jack Nicklaus's records?
On a brighter note for the man who seems to have everything - gorgeous wife, new born child, more money than he could ever spend and the admiration of millions of golfer and non-golfers around the world - this year's US Open is at one of his favourite venues.
Woods has already won at Torrey Pines this season when he cruised to an eight shot victory in the Buick Invitational and he has won six times there in the past - including each of his last four.
Before suffering the injury to his troublesome left knee Woods was - to all intents and purposes - untouchable. At the Buick nobody could get near him from the start of Thursday to the final putt on Sunday. Tiger was at his dominating and imperious best that week but he enters the US Open a wounded animal in more ways than one.
Not only is his knee still potentially a little short of full fitness but the elusive Grand Slam slipped away in his last outing. However, you know what they say about facing wounded animals!
Would you back Tiger this week? Or is your money going elsewhere?
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