Tuesday, April 12, 2011
MASTERS-The Tiger Effect
Dying is the last. And when your buddies begin to lose hope on your recovery, you truly are gone: we supposed.
At last weekend’s Masters (Golf first Major of the season), former world number one Tiger Woods, resounded a fact; that it is only you that can write yourself off. Everyone’s last chance is with himself.
No need boring you with the details of Tiger slip from his esteemed rating. Last week’s Masters was the first in over ten years that he would not be ‘seeded’. And clearly no one felt guilty for that, his dollar worth has dropped too by 37million UDS in his first winless season in 2010.
He still has not won, going to last week’s Masters. So different topics reeled the news sites on previews and for Tiger, it was why he couldn’t, shouldn’t and wouldn’t matter that every analyst tried to explain.
And for the umpteenth time some of the European “stars’ rained on him. I remember the headline on Ian Poulter’s view where he boldly said Tiger was not good enough for a fifth place.
Really, he had reason to assert that; Tiger got wacked in the WGC matchplay silly, weeks back. He is perfecting a new swing that a lot of experts have dismissed as silly too. And everything from his personal life to commercial life and performance on the field has never looked worse. He was a dying man.
The only positive came from Tiger himself when he tried to debunk Poulter’s sinking remark on the eve of Masters. He said he can only get better.
He put up a charge on the second round after his opening -1, but none would ever compare his fourth day charge. He made the Masters his own especially with his six birdies and a boggey on the front nine, that earned him the most electric round at this year’s Masters.
Three-day leader Rory Mcilroy got blown apart when he saw the full steam the former number one contested for the “Green Jacket’. Tiger did not win (he finished joint fourth) but won some more hearts which I think he should be gunning for.
But then coming home, I am learning to give more people the chance to prove themselves. Especially those that dare work on their ‘swing’ I know that no matter how awkward it may look to outsider, the faith of the player count more than what I think.
Someday, the Nigeria Golf Federation will change its swing analyst, or stay longer on the putting range; I will not be an Ian Poulter, I promise (I have never been). I see the Professional Golf Association of Nigeria get a new driver (Sahara Tour model), but their short game has began suffering (Local Tour). I cant ‘Poulter’ them. I am told Jega and his INEC team has been a distraction to their short game. I believe too.
Is Golf Union of Nigeria still playing this game? Anyway my lessons from Masters know no bound. I believe in their rebound as long as they make efforts to shake off their rustiness.
The PGA Tour, a haaa! Someone tell me why our new baby is playing par threes alone these days, please mount the Par4s and Par 5s, you have more chance of birdies here except you don’t want to play in major events again. Again, I believe in you, I can ‘Poulter’.
I learn that last week at the Masters.
