The King is Dead; Long Live the King

Rory McIlroy’s second major of the season may finally put the Tiger era to rest, but don’t count on it. The American sports media continues its irrational obsession with Tiger being the face of golf. They lament the fact that the number of people taking up the game is on the decline because of the waning powers of Woods. Realistically, the attraction of the sport for black people probably coincides with the demise of their champion.

Local talking heads on the sports channel in Atlanta were whining that the PGA Championship would not be good viewing on the weekend because their poster boy had missed the cut. How many other golfers receive intense TV coverage when they are six over with the completion of two rounds?

The obsession with Tiger Woods continued this morning (Monday 11th August) at Tom Watson’s press conference where the agenda was the forthcoming Ryder Cup. Tiger can only be in the team if he is one of Captain Watson three picks. Journalists peppered Watson with questions on whether he would select an unfit and out of form Tiger Woods for the Ryder Cup. Watson sensibly replied that he would pick him if he was healthy, but avoided the issue of his lack of form. Tiger does not intend playing competitive  golf between now and the Ryder Cup in six weeks.

One journalist had the temerity to ask Watson if he trusted Tiger Woods.  Watson hesitated for a moment and eventually replied: “Yes of course I do! (but thinking not with my daughter.)

Returning to the final round of the PGA Championship, it turned out to be compelling viewing. At the beginning of the round several players were in contention of Rory McIlroy who led by one shot from an Austrian not named Arnie or Adolph. By the turn, there were four players with a realistic chance of winning the tournament; the No 1 player in the world (Rory,) the young pretender Ricki Fowler, the middle aged Scandinavian with oodles of talent Henrik Stenson, and the old magician Phil Mickelson.

Approaching the 10th tee, McIlroy was 3 shots behind Fowler. Rory’s second shot following a perfect drive down the fairway was an exocet missile that curved from left to right landing approximately 10 feet from the pin. McIlroy took his time and knocked the putt in the hole for an eagle on the Par 5. This proved to be the pivotal hole as his rivals proceeded to drop shots coming home. McIlroy made a birdie on the 12th hole and the championship was back in his clutches winning eventually by one shot from Phil Mickelson.

McIlroy has won his last three tournaments; The Open, the Bridgestone and the PGA Championship. He gets the job done on the back nine which separates him from his fellow competitors. Can he win as many majors as Tiger Woods (14) let alone Jack Nicklaus who holds the record at 18? Rory admitted that he has been totally  focused on golf since his public break up with Caroline Whatever, and this has  proved to be the reason for his current rich vein of form. Whether he can retain that type of focus for X number of years is anyone’s guess, but it will be fun watching the best player in golf attempting to transform the record books.

 

 

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