No, Nike, Tiger Woods will not win the Masters this week.
It’s preposterous that many oddsmakers have made Woods the favorite. Hello? Ever hear of Nick Faldo?
This is just another example of the Tiger hype. Sports Illustrated made Woods its Sportsman of the Year for winning two late-season tournaments, plus a third straight U.S. Amateur, last year. What’s going to happen if he wins the Masters? Time magazine Man of the Year?
Apparently, the facts aren’t out about Woods. Before he thinks about winning the Masters, he should set another goal. Like shooting a round below par. In six rounds at Augusta National as an amateur, he never posted red numbers. He didn’t make the cut last year, shooting two 75s.
Also, there’s history. Only one golfer ever won his first major as a pro. And it wasn’t Nicklaus, Hogan or Palmer. It was Jerry Pate, who won the 1976 U.S. Open. And look what it did for his career. Pate now is doing infomercials for the Alien wedge. So if Woods peaks at the Masters, he could wind up shilling for the Viper wedge 20 years from now.
That’s doubtful, because Jack Nicklaus himself predicts Woods will win 10 green jackets. Woods is destiny’s darling, but destiny won’t visit him this year.
Right, Tiger?
“I always say that I don’t care what anyone says, whether it’s the media, family, friends or anybody else–I know what I want to do, and I’m going to go out there and try to do it,” Woods says.
Sorry, Tiger, but here are five reasons why you’re going to be leaving Augusta National with only a Nike jacket this week:
1. A Masters lesson: The 21-year-old prodigy has pinpointed why he hasn’t done better at the Masters. School. It seems Woods had Stanford and studies on his mind when he came to Augusta the last two years, and he couldn’t concentrate completely on golf.
But he says he has a clear head this week and will be completely focused on the task at hand. What he doesn’t realize is that his lessons are only beginning.
Woods has the perfect game for Augusta. He is so long he turns par 5s into par 3s.
But Woods won’t be able to overpower this course. Nowhere on tour is the concept of “local knowledge” more vital.
No less an authority than Faldo, who has won three Masters, says it took him six or seven years to learn the nuances at Augusta.
“There’s a learning curve playing Augusta,” Faldo says.
At the Masters, it’s not how far you hit them, but how you roll them on the greens.
Says Greg Norman: “Length is not everything. It’s controlling the ball. The distance you hit the ball is the most important factor around here with your iron shots. He’s going to blast it into 15 (a par 5) with a 9-iron like he did last year. But there’s a lot of other holes that make it a little more difficult for him too.”
2. Give us a sign: The Tiger legend was fueled by a report that he shot a 59 last week on his home course in Orlando. Too bad it didn’t happen in a tournament.
Woods says he is ready for the Masters, but he has given no indication his game is on track. Since winning the rain-shortened Mercedes Championships and finishing second at Pebble Beach, Woods hasn’t threatened. He finished 17 strokes behind Steve Elkington at The Players Championship.
The Tiger supporters say he has been gearing himself up for this week. If so, the Masters isn’t the easiest place to turn it on suddenly.
3. Distractions, distractions: Hey, Tiger, have you heard the one about . . .?
So an article in GQ magazine reveals that Tiger likes to tell off-color jokes and uses salty language every now and then. Big deal.
Apparently Woods thought it was a big deal because he quickly issued a press release denouncing the story. It’s another example that Woods doesn’t always win the battle of distractions.
Woods talked at length about distractions this week.
“For players such as myself it becomes difficult at times because people aren’t respectful of our private space,” Woods said. “And I wish people were more understanding of that, because I’m sure they want people to be respectful of theirs. And it should go on a two-way street, but it doesn’t.”
Woods, though, didn’t get much sympathy from another player who had his time in the spotlight.
“I visited with Tiger,” said Arnold Palmer, a four-time Masters champion. “He said his public won’t let him act like a 21-year-old man. Well, how many 21-year-old men are in the position Tiger Woods is in? I said, `Hey, that’s the price you pay for the position you’re in. There has to be a payback somewhere for all the nice things that happen to you.’ “
That’s a lesson from a true Master.
4. The other prodigy: When Phil Mickelson turned pro, he was supposed to be the next Jack Nicklaus. He hasn’t done badly, winning 10 tournaments before the age of 27.
Now comes his moment to win the big one, his first major. Like Woods, Mickelson has the length to shrink down Augusta. And nobody has more tricks around the green.
And unlike Woods, Mickelson has a history on this course. He finished third last year.
Woods’ presence also eases the pressure on Mickelson.
“Since he’s out here and expected to do so well, it’s taken the focus off the other players, which is good,” Mickelson says.
Mickelson should look good in a green jacket.
5. Overdose: Woods won’t win this week because if he did, Nike would go crazy. They might try to get Michael Jordan to say “I am Tiger Woods” in a commercial.
The public can only be subjected to so much.
MASTERING THE ODDS
TRIBUNE GOLF WRITER ED SHERMAN HANDICAPS THE MASTERS FAVORITES:
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– Phil Mickelson 5-1
It’s his time.
– Tom Lehman 6-1
Plays well on this course.
– Nick Faldo 6-1
No. 4 would be a feat.
– Colin Montgomerie 8-1
Just a feeling.
– Steve Elkington 10-1
He is red-hot.
– Tiger Woods 12-1
Needs some seasoning.
– Greg Norman 15-1
Not after last year.
– David Duval 18-1
Quite a time to win his first tournament.
– Fred Couples 20-1
Always a threat here.
– Jesper Parnevik 25-1
Would his funky hat go with the green jacket?
– Davis Love III 25-1
Still looking for first major.
– Jack Nicklaus 200-1
For dreamers only. %%
