12/21/24
August 17, 2005
I just heard that on ESPN. That Tiger has balls.
posted by dbt302 at 03:20 PM on August 17, 2005
I was watching on Monday wondering if he was around. Now that I hear he wasn't, I'm not really surprised.
posted by dyams at 03:38 PM on August 17, 2005
"These are the best players in the world. Look who's on the board." He's kinda got a point. Call it respect for the players ahead of him.
posted by YukonGold at 04:04 PM on August 17, 2005
That respect was almost unwarranted -- Mickelson beat him by 2, Bjorn and another golfer by 1. It would have been a Joe Pisarcik-level error if Woods reached a playoff.
posted by rcade at 04:17 PM on August 17, 2005
Goldie's right. Tiger knew his competition. Every last one of them had won in the situation before. To expect all five of them to choke would have been beyond ridiculous. That said, I'd have postponed the flight home a few hours, especially if I was just going home to work out. Tiger's blowing this off as though he knew it all along, and he wasn't watching it except at the end after it was decided, but you know he was staring at the teeve, pulling for Lefty as hard as he could, and wiping the poop out of his pants. The way it worked out, it's kind of funny. But it was a bit more cavalier than I'd have expected him to be.
posted by chicobangs at 05:05 PM on August 17, 2005
I agree there wasn't much chance of him making a playoff, it smells just a bit of Randy Moss walking off the field with two seconds left last year. Yeah, there wasn't much of a chance, but still.
posted by hootch at 05:30 PM on August 17, 2005
("it smells" should be "but it smells")
posted by hootch at 05:31 PM on August 17, 2005
Risky move even though he did not win. Although he was a long shot, I'm sure he did not expect to finish tied for 4th due to the poor play by the leaders on Sunday either. If I were him I would have stayed.
posted by panteeze at 05:39 PM on August 17, 2005
it smells just a bit of Randy Moss walking off the field omg...no! It's not even close in my mind. Randy Moss looked totally like a quitter...Tiger played his heart out and came up short. Blame the PGA tournament directors here, a little foresight and the tournament wouldn't have stretched to Monday.
posted by YukonGold at 06:58 PM on August 17, 2005
I don't think "played his heart out" applies to a guy who left when there was still a chance his tournament wasn't over. I admire Woods for his luck here, but on some level, he was giving up a chance to win a Major by leaving before it was decided. That's a weird thing to do, and something no other golfer would have done, considering how much more a major means to everyone who isn't named Tiger.
posted by rcade at 09:49 PM on August 17, 2005
Great story. I don't know why but I like Tiger even more after this. I think it's just so business-like, just shows how well he calculates stuff, knows his competition, trusts his gut, doesn't hang around waiting for something to happen, just decides, "Hey, I'm done here. Move on. I have to prep for the next tourney. Have to work on my game. Have to work out." Next!
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:50 PM on August 17, 2005
Maybe I have a warped perception, but I think Tiger coming back to be the leader in the clubhouse after shooting an opening round 75 and making a birdie on the 36th hole to even make the cut, qualifies as playing his heart out. Once he finishes his round it's out of his control.
posted by YukonGold at 07:32 AM on August 18, 2005
Tiger had a decision to make and he made it. As things turned out, it was the right decision
posted by daddisamm at 07:58 AM on August 18, 2005
YukonGold, you are not the only one. I just think it would have been sweet if Tiger showed up Monday with the rest of the guys and just started bombing drives on the practice tee like he was warming up for a playoff.
posted by usfbull at 12:32 PM on August 18, 2005
Yikes! I watched the finish of the PGA Championship live, and the announcers talked often of when Tiger could safely leave the airport. The idea he might he home in Orlando never crossed their minds. What a gamble!