Comments on: The hype is right for a Tiger masterclass

By: Phil Coorey

Phil Coorey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:20:35 +0000

Off the top of my head I know he played 3 masters as an amateur and the 96 Open which Steve Jones won…I’m sure wiki will help…

I was adjacent to Van de Velde when it all went pear shaped. People think about his adventures in the water but forget that – he the worst drive ever on 18 (only matched by Mickelson at Winged Foot when Ogilvy won) . How it missed the burn on the right side of the fairway convinced us that it was his tournament to win. When he pulled out a long iron, instead of laying up we choked with him.

The ball actually went over the burn but hit the grandstand and bounced back – from where he hit into the burn I think from the rough – we were in shock then so the next five minutes was a daze as he got up and down from the bunker to force a playoff.

It was insane , just insane. I felt more sorry for him later that year when he only got to play in the singles for the Ryder Cup.

Off the top of my head Tiger finished in the Top 20 – he was paired with Greg Norman on the Saturday and it was a blast. Like I said – that stinger was a joy to watch and he seemed to save all his good putts for par.

I think after Carnoustie he won the next 4 of the next 5 majors starting with that epic duel with Sergio before he won the US Open (Pebble) , British (St Andrews) and US PGA (Bob may playoffs – Valhalla??)in 2000. (Just writing that off the top of my head – so I could be wrong)

I love him – shame he is a Magic fan – go Celtics…:)

By: Benjamin Conkey

Benjamin Conkey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:52:59 +0000

Ahh yeah my bad. That actually makes a lot more sense, because his triumph in 1997 was indeed his first major played as a professional. I don’t how many he played as an amateur (acutally that would be an interesting bit of trivia).

Carnoustie 1999. What memories. Did he make the cut that year? All I remember was the infamous Jean Van De Velde mind-snap on the final hole. My brother and I stayed up all night to watch it.
Were you there for that final round?

By: Phil Coorey

Phil Coorey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:24:59 +0000

Thanks for the reply – but I hate to say I could be right…

I said that he had not won a major in his previous 7 attempts when I saw him – the four majors that year in 1998 and the 3 after his awesome triumph in 1997 – you might have misread my quote…

The best shot I ever saw Tiger play live was his 2 iron off the tee at Carnoustie in the wind. he called it “The stinger” , it barely traveled 10 feet of the ground and flew like a missile – awesome

By: Benjamin Conkey

Benjamin Conkey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:07:18 +0000

Yeah good call Phil, golf would be struggling everywhere if it wasn’t for him. Australians certainly do get excited but I don’t think we are alone when it comes to Tiger. Someone said on Talking Sport this afternoon that the practice round shows why golf is such a great sport. There you had Tiger, the most athletic, gym-shaped figure in world sport… practicing with ‘Popeye” Craig Parry, a pudgy penguin shaped Aussie who tried to lose weight, but it affected his golf swing, so he put it straight back on!
The lesson here is that golf is for everyone, no matter what shape and size – what’s more there’s no age limit.

You are very lucky to have seen him play Phil, but I must pull you up on one stat. He had won prior to 1998. He won the Masters in 1997, it was his first major win and arguably his most dominant performance – winning by 12 strokes. That victory changed golf forever and ‘Tiger-proofing’ became a popular phrase amongst golf course designers.

By: Phil Coorey

Phil Coorey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:15:01 +0000

The hype is great and I am a HUGE Tiger Woods fan – however, why are there helicopters flying over head during a practice round – or when he arrives? Seriously – it makes Australia look like a bunch of over excited freaks. He’ll never come back if they keep carrying on like this.
‘
Glad I saw him at the Presidents Cup in 1998 and at Carnoustie in 1999 – the crowds were way smaller then.

He is a joy to watch – if not just to see the amazing ball flight he has compared to every other player on tour. We noted in 1998 that he was the best player in the field at the Presidents Cup by a country mile ( he had not won a major in his previous 7 attempts at this stage and was rebuilding his swing with Harmon) and thankfully he proved everyone right – the guy is a freak.

I don’t care about the appearance fee at all – to me it is irrelevant – and it should be to the nay sayers – the guy has changed the way golf is looked at since before he even turned pro – without him golf would be struggling everywhere – not just here.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:38:58 +0000

Thanks for this. I’ve been a Tiger supporter despite the ups and downs of his career, and I agree the appearance is well deserved… yes even with that $3 mill price tag. It really doesn’t matter whether Tiger finishes under par or royally misses a 3-foot putt. He’s still Tiger Woods, and people will come from all over to pay tribute to a living legend. We definitely saw that similar trend here in the States with Beckham as you said.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:05:47 +0000

Great stuff Conks, it’s always a special time when genuine international supertstars grace our shores. For me the difference between Daly last year and Tiger this year is the reaction of the OS-based Australians. Whereas last year they all offered cautious “we’ll see” comments, this year they’re all genuinely excited. Stuart Appleby telling the media corp yesterday that “you guys will be like giggling schoolgirls this week..” is a perfect example…

And to think Nathan Rees mocked Victoria for spending this sort of money while he preferred the offerings of Brian Eno…..

By: Michael Green

Michael Green — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:50:07 +0000

Nice solid, positive thoughts. It’s nice to see a few positive golf articles around this week pumping up Woods and his appearance fee. The hype is phenomenal already and I believe there were plenty at his practice round this morning. Your second last line is so true.

By: vinay verma

vinay verma — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:26:13 +0000

Benjamin..I like the use of the word “exurbanite” It fits Tiger down to a tee.

It will be only the churlish that would deny Tiger is good for Australian Golf . The man is a superstar in the Muhammed Ali mould. He breaks down barriers because of his sheer talent. He cuts across all prejudice. His appearance fee I believe is underwritten by the Victorian Government and it is money well spent. It will raise the profile of Melbourne and Australia. Only good can come of it.