Of course we had some blabbering this week from Eldrick Woods, telling everyone how happy he is and how he’s looking forward to his orchestrated return to actually teeing up a golf ball, hitting it and writing a score in a box on a score card.
“I am excited to make my return at the Hero World Challenge at Albany and play in this terrific event.”
Thank-you Eldrick, thank-you very much.
Okay, so Woods stiffed the Safeway folks and fans last month in Northern California but he will be on hand for the millions of golf fans living down there in the Bahamas. It’s about a month to go, actually a mere 25 days or so for those of you who are marking the days on your official Tiger Woods calendar.
This Hero World Challenge thing benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation so you figure he’s not going to stiff his own people at the last minute the way he did the Safeway, so maybe, just maybe, Woods is going to reveal that “vulnerable” game of his on the first day of December, 2016 in the year of our Lord.
It’s a perfect environment for Woods. He has hand-selected the field and here’s what it looks like (Mouseketeer Role Call, Sound Off Now):
Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Brooks Koepka, Russell Knox, Louie Oosthuizen, J.B. Holmes, Emiliano Grillo, Zach Johnson.
Okay, take a close look at Tiger’s list.
You will find 10 of the 12 United States Ryder Cup team members on it.
Conspicuously absent are two names: Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore.
Mickelson not being there is no surprise. Woods wants nothing to do with him and Phil doesn’t give a hoot about Woods. In fact, Mickelson insisted on being paired with Woods at the Safeway so he could basically beat the poop out of Tiger over at least the first two rounds.
Didn’t happen. Woods retained his poop.
Now Tiger can pick who he WANTS to play with on Dec. 1 and don’t be surprised if it’s someone quiet, unassuming and non-threatening, you know, someone like Zach Johnson.
You think Tiger is going to pair himself with D.J. and watch Johnson hit it 60 by him all day?
Don’t think so.
Not sure about Justin Rose showing up although he lives in Albany, he’s had back problems and hasn’t played lately so if he does show, then maybe Woods goes with him. Tiger doesn’t want someone who’s on top of his game.
Now that we’ve addressed that, let us wonder why Ryan Moore is the only other Ryder Cupper who didn’t get an invite.
Was it a snub or an oversight?
Whatever it was, Woods should feel bad about it but this is Tiger Woods we’re talking about, the man who deep down inside, probably could care less.
The funny part of this Friends Of Tiger Outing is that Woods had to give himself a sponsor’s exemption into the deal.
Right now, Woods is ranked a lofty 831st in the Official World Golf Rankings.
The great news for Woods is that in this return of his, he is guaranteed a Top 20 finish.
There is no cut and there are only 18 players.
Nice for Tiger.
4 Comments
Scudder Graybeal
Pretty low class, snarky article. Why do writers do this instead of just reporting the story.?Maybe so they can make themselves the center of attention.
Tom Edrington
It’s op-ed in case you’ve never read any, opinion-editorial…..Tiger was simply afraid to try and play in a setting he could not control for his “comeback” if you want to call it that.
aardvark45
Nice hatchet job. Tell us, have you always been a hater or did you come to this recently?
Tom Edrington
If you poll his peers, off the record, most will tell you that they don’t care for Tiger. We surely don’t “hate” him…..hate ISIS and terrorists, as far as Eldrick goes, he has and always will be the world’s most self-centered golfer, he “hides” in his Jupiter retreat, claims to be in the restaurant business yet no one ever sees him there, and we could go on and on and on. He lost my vote when a parking lot camera showed him blow off a young boy who approached him for an autograph, no crowds, no reason Eldrick couldn’t take five lousy seconds to sign for the kid, he not only blew him off, he backhanded the piece of paper the youngster held out for him so if you want to call me a “hater” go ahead, because yes, I do hate behavior such as that.