Putting on a Clinic

There are times when Tiger Woods is impressive and then there are days like today where he puts on an absolute clinic and begins to play at a different level than anyone has dared go. What made the day even more mouth dropping was the manner in which he did it. He played alongside Rory Sabatini and toyed with him like a cat with a crippled mouse. In case you missed it, Sabatini was quoted a few months ago as saying "Tiger is more beatable now than ever, I like the new Tiger." Of course that ticked Tiger off, and so he took great pleasure in not just beating Sabatini but delicately taking him apart hole by hole. Get this, Tiger started the day one shot back and won by 8 shots...8 shots. Sabatini struggled, hacking it all over the course - Tiger watched all day with a small smirk out of the corner of his mouth. When Sabatini putted, Woods "pretended" to be occupied with cleaning his cleats or leaning carelessly on his putter. It was all intentional, every little action was meant to personify "I'm kicking your butt...and enjoying it." Tiger finished the day as the only player in the tournament under par, he shot 65 to Sabatini's 74, he chipped in twice from the fringe, hit almost 80% of the greens in regulation, didn't make a bogey, and most impressive -- he did not miss a put inside 8 feet all week. From puts 8 feet or less, he was 100%!! After 12 holes Nick Faldo said that they should pause for a time of silence in honor of Sabatini's funeral procession. Tiger ripped a drive on 8 so far, David Fehrety said "that's vaporized." The whole round was simultaneously mindboggling and funny.




The PGA championship is this week at Southern Hills. The recent memory there is the 2001 U.S. Open, Retief Goosen missed a short putt on 18 and had to win it in a playoff next day. Tulsa, Oklahoma is going to be very hot and humid. Golf fans desperately need someone worthy to win the tournament, this is turning out to be one of the lamest group of major winners of all time. On thursday/Friday the Masters/U.S. Open/British Open champs play in a group together. Compare this: last year the group was Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and Geoff Ogilvy - this year it is Zack Johnson, Angel Cabrera, Padrig Harrington. While last year everyone followed the champions group, i think it will be pretty barren.

I love the PGA, they've chosen really great courses in recent past - had the best champions (last three have been Tiger, Phil, and Vijah) - and produced exciting finishes. As much as they are pushing the Fed-Ex Cup playoffs, this tournament really brings the season to a close and moves over for pre-season football. I implore you to tune in to CBS next weekend, maybe our summer will finally get a decent champion. Any thoughts on the PGA or potential champs...other than Tiger, think a little.