That sound you are hearing out of Napa is the very loud, collective growns from the good folks in charge of the Safeway Championship.
After going bonkers the last few weeks knowing that one Eldrick Woods had chosen their little event to make his heralded return to golf, the feeling late Monday had to be one of total disbelief and shock.
Tim Rosaforte of The Golf Channel reported it first — Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the Safeway.
So much with the Jesper Parnevik nonsense about Tiger “flushing” all his shots on the range and hitting his driver for miles.
The only thing Woods “flushed” on Monday was the feelings of the tournament organizers. The only thing he “flushed” was the excitement of fans who bought tickets thinking that they would witness some golf history — the return of Eldrick The Awful after 14 months of doing what he does best, recover from something.
Oh, we’ll hear the bunk about Tiger having “concerns about the sharpness of his game” nonsense.
Sharpness?
After 14 months on ice, how could Woods be anything but rusty?
Perhaps Woods was simply afraid that he’d get his butt handed to him knowing that he was probably going to be paired with Phil “I made a bet he wouldn’t show” Mickelson.
You would have to think that somewhere, Mickelson had some action on this one. Maybe he got 2-1 that Woods wouldn’t show up.
That’s the Tiger Woods we’ve known for quite a while now — he never fails to disappoint.
You will recall that Woods basically waited until the 11th hour to enter the event. That came late Friday, just a couple of hours before the commitment deadline that the PGA Tour sets for these events.
The poor Safeway ran all those expense television ads pimping the return of Woods.
Maybe, just maybe Tiger should reimburse them.
Woods made his excuse on his website — EldrickTheAwful.com — actually, TigerWoods.com carried this B.S. from Woods:
“After a lot of soul searching and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey. My health is good and I feel strong but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be.”
Eldrick also said he sends his regrets to the fans in California and Turkey.
Perhaps Woods spent all his energy as a Vice Captain for the Ryder Cup team.
Maybe he got bonked by an empty champagne bottle during the celebration and he’s still a little woozie.
The confusing part about all of this is the Jesper Report — you know, how good Tiger’s hitting it and how this comeback might be one for the ages.
Yeah, no doubt Tiger is flushing it okay.
As long as he’s on a toilet somewhere.
