 "The big cat is back at Augusta Masters as Tiger Woods makes his play")
Tiger Woods is still the story. Even now, when it was not sure whether he would play the Masters or not, he received more coverage than any other golfer. The fact is that millions have admired him; millions dislike him (especially the Swedes!) and millions who might not even play much golf miss his electric presence on the TV. Whether he is playing in a tournament or not can make or break the tournament financially, as ticket sales, TV ratings and sponsorship monies increase dramatically with his participation. Malaysian golf, for instance, has grown rapidly because they took the risk of paying his appearance fee, reportedly $3 million for a tournament. The rest is history; no other player, past or present, could have transformed the whole of the Far East into golfing nations.
THE BIG CAT IS BACK ….. BUT WHO WILL WIN?
So now, he has dropped off the top hundred list in world rankings. Till May 2014, he was number one, even as he had not been the best player in the world for two-three years. He was so far ahead in ranking that it took long for others to catch up. Rankings have a power and attraction of their own, and this is best summed up by Peter Thomson as follows:
“The five golf circuits on the planet these days revolve around what is added up as rankings. This is the list that suggests who is best or where one sits on the ladder going up or down. Those who play their lives away chasing prize money are victims of its power. Rankings determine who gets into limited fields where the biggest of golf’s money is fought over. To pass up a tournament that has a large “pot” is a backwards career step vis a vis rankings. To pass up one with a small winner’s cheque does not do much damage. This system has never been accepted as perfect, but like democracy, it is better than any other. After initial attempts back in the 1950s to rank tournaments, which proved too difficult, it finally and permanently came down to dollars. Ben Hogan, who strutted through the 50s, playing no more than four events a year, would not have made the list. At least he would not have made the top of the list, even had he won all four “majors”.
Tiger has missed a few tournaments and performed poorly in others lately. Then, what’s the harm in withdrawing until, as he says, he is “tournament ready. This means, not so much to be in the top 10 but to have a good shot at winning every event he enters against a field that is not only excellent but no longer scared of the big cat; some might even be contemptuous.
Characterised by frequent wild driving (possible without stroke or distance penalty on many courses in the US) but superb recovery shots and putting put him on top. With recurrent injuries and driving still suspect, the recovery shots and even the putter have gone cold. One is told by a neighbour and close friend of Tiger’s that he is now physically fine and is practising to put more of his drives on the fairway, even if he loses distance, and rely more on his outstanding long iron play. His short game and putting, both need to be spruced up as well! Being really great in at least one department, at this level, makes a huge difference to overall performance. Of course, getting rid of self-accumulated mental baggage is part of the cure for him.
Does he have the ‘yips’ in chipping and bunker play? It certainly looks like it. ‘Yip’ demons sit in the subconscious and resurface at critical moments, unless toughness of mind can finally exorcise them. If he can manage that, the loss in rankings will simply seem a slough of despond between two peaks. “Saevis tranquillos in undis”, or keeping cool when all hell is breaking loose, has been his forte.
Tiger has managed pressure and limelight since he was two. He can handle pressure. His fall from the pinnacle, and from grace, an oft-repeated human condition, can lead to ruin or resurgence. All indications are that it is the latter that is working through his system. There are several other great players abounding any of which can win. Rory is the favourite at 8:1, though Bubba Watson can easily make it three green jackets in four years. Curiously, while the odds on Tiger to make the cut are even money, he is tied at the tote with Phil Mickelson at 20:1 to win. Clearly, the bookies fear huge losses should Tiger surprise everyone and win! So, the odds on him are not nearer 100:1. Despite Phil’s reasonable performance and occasional brilliance at the just-concluded Houston Shell Open, he is not in the reckoning. Jason Day of the perfect swing, a resurgent Dustin Johnson, an in-form Henrik Stenson, all could come good. Rory being ever-hungry for this Major (which eluded him in 2011 due to a final nine meltdown) as it will make him the 6th golfer ever to win golf’s Grand Slam, does not seem to have lit the fuse to reach peak form yet. Is it too late? The South African players are looking relatively lacklustre. Paul Casey of England has suddenly found form and may be the leading foreign contender for the Green Jacket.
As for India’s Anirban Lahiri, his first outing in the US has not been good. Experience has to be gained here, as playing conditions here — culturally, emotionally and physically — are much different from the East. Hopefully, he will get into the top 20 to be recalled next year and come really good with the needed experience under his belt.
For my money, Jordon Spieth of Texas with one victory and two seconds in the past three starts, is showing the best colour. He will certainly outshine the other twenteens and, having come second to Bubba Watson in 2014, be a strong contender for the green jacket this year.
They have all been having a great time as “Catibus absentii, rodenti cavorti”! But, the ‘Big Cat’ is back!