The Monday Wrapup

Only one tournament to talk about this week. Fans of the Ladies European Tour have my apoligies.


Tiger Woods wins the PGA Championship by two shots for his 13th major victory

He won with his patented two deep zone golf once he secured the lead (a 63 in a major will have that effect), minimizing mistakes and daring his competitors to get close. Woody Austin (67)and Ernie Els (66) did a good job down the stretch, but it wasn't enough to catch Tiger, who looked like he had an extra gear if needed. His tee shot on the 16th was a ridiculous combination of power and precision; it served as a exclamation point for the win.

Speaking of winning, lets go through the Winners and Losers of the week:

Woody Austin - Winner: He couldn't catch Tiger, but he best performance in a major (second)got him on the Presidents Cup team, and maybe he will be remembered for something more than his Tobasco shirts and hitting himself over the head with his putter.

Ernie Els - Winner: I am a Knick fan, and clearly remember the 90's playoff wars between Patrick Ewing's Knicks and Michael Jordan's Bulls (don't get me started on Charles Smith and a layup). Because Jordan was so dominant, Ewing's career is looked at as somewhat of a failure since his team couldn't win a championship. Erine Els is in the same category. His career is Hall of Fame worthy with three major championships, but he almost seems to be a failure becasue Tiger.

He has finished tied for fourth and third in the last two majors. I assumed after the British Open that he is on the backnine of his career; he may just be getting fully healthy after his knee surgery in 2005, an injury he may have tried to come back from too soon. We will also see him at the Presidents Cup.

TNT - Winner: They broadcast the Grand Slam of Golf, the competition between the major championship winners. Before yesterday the participants were Zack Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington. Ouside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Johnson's hometown) there wasn't going to be a lot of viewers dying to tune their Direct TV's to channel 245 to watch that matchup. With Tiger making it a foursome, TNT can charge a little more for and available ad time.

Stephen Ames - Loser: The Tiger Intimidation Tour continues as Ames shhots a 76 in the final round, 7 shots behind Tiger. He fell from second at the end of three holes to a tie for 12th at the end of the tournament. At least he didn't say anything stupid.

John Daly - Winner: He made the cut of a major and was close to the lead after the first round...

John Daly - Loser: and then flushed it away with three straight 73s.

A lot of poeple talk about having the mental capacity to win. Whatever mindstate that constitutes, Daly doesn't have it. While he didn't mentally check out like he has done in majors in the past, he doesn't change his approach to the game at all to fit the circumstances.

Daly's definately juicing

PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem has announced the PGA Tour has begun to develop policies regarding performance enhancing drugs, incluing testing. This is a reversal of his original stance; that golf didn't need such a policy due to the arrogance of the golf elite integrity of the game. This annoucement led to writers going for the easy laugh, pointing to pictures of Mickelson and Angel Cabrera and saying 'these guys are on steroids?' Besides being more hacky than Robin Williams, they miss the point.

First off all, as baseball has taught us, steroids/human growth hormone/whatever the newest drug the cycling world is using these days are more important to extend a career or recover quicker from an injury. With all the money available on the PGA Tour, is it that hard to believe an older or injured golfer would throw down some HGH during the offseason, work out like his livelyhood depended on it and make a bunch of cash late in his career?
Second, isn't one of the main complaints about the current game is today's professionals hit the ball too far? Is it inconceivable enhancers could have something to do with that? I own a Taylor Made R7 driver (damn Sergio Garcia commercials) and I'm not hitting it 300+ yards. Could it be more than just the equipment?

Third, steroids are not the only performance enhancer out there. Craig Parry has brought up the possible use of beta blockers to steady nerves during play (perhaps someone should have told Aaron Baddeley about them before his round with Tiger).

Finchem has learned the lesson the NBA learned the hard way in the 80's with their cocaine scandals and MLB is still learning with their steroid scandals: it is easier to keep the trust of your fans then try to gain it back after you lose said trust. Professional golf may not need drug testing due to a doping epidemic, but they do need their good name. A little urine in a cup is a small price to pay for that.