IS TIGER GONNA BE MAJOR(LESS) IN 2010??

 

Tiger Woods is an exceptional golfer and the most talented golfer anyone in my generation will ever see. He has shown the world the most amazing comebacks and never fails to surprise us when the chips are down.

I was born in South Africa and had guys like Ernie Els and Gary Player to look up to from a young age, saying that Tiger Woods is still the greatest role model in my lifetime.

Tiger has had a lot of ups and downs in his career (90%ups) but no matter what, he has come back time after time and put smiles on our faces by his achievements. He had a really rough time with his dad passing away and that would affect anyone. 

However Tiger had a really close relationship with his dad, and when he burst out in tears on the 18th after winning the British Open I think the world gained a new respect for Tiger Woods, and saw that he is only a human.

Tiger got married and had a child and then, the terrible knee injury he had coming got worse and worse. Who would ever forget the PGA Championship he had won with basically one leg…AMAZING!

Tiger has now come back after that knee surgery he had in 2008 and he had a really great 2009 season with his new and repaired leg. He won many tournaments this year however the one important thing Tiger play’s golf for is missing…….A MAJOR!!

I watched him closely after his return this year and he has looked amazing at times but I have never seen Tiger Woods act or have a nervous look on his face as he had in this year’s majors.

It’s easy for me to say that he looks nervous from the comfort of my living room, but can Tiger overcome this great pressure of winning his first major after returning with “a new leg” and more importantly, being so close to becoming the greatest golfer that’s ever lived??

My final thought is that Tiger will always be the greatest athlete and golfer I’ve ever seen. However can he overtake the great Jack Nicklaus in becoming the greatest golfer EVER??

TIGER TAKES A TIME OUT…

 

After having the most bizarre 3 weeks of his life Tiger Woods has decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. The 33-year-old has realised and said that there are more important things than golf going on in his life right now and will instead try to become a better father, husband….. and person.

The world number one confessed “infidelity” on his website and has apologised several times for this act. He asked his fans, supporters and family for forgiveness.

“I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children,” said Woods.

“After much soul-searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person,” Woods said.

“I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try,” he added.

“The entirety of someone’s life is more important than just a professional career. What matters most is a young family that is trying to cope with difficult life issues in a secluded and caring way. Whenever Tiger may return to the game should be on the family’s terms alone,” his current agent Mark Steinberg said.

The most intriguing part about this whole story for golf supporters is, will Tiger be better or worse? Will the fans give him a hard time out there on the course? How will this affect him in becoming the greatest golfer of all time?

Most importantly when will Tiger be back on the scene?

FURYK WINS THE CHEVRON..

 

Jim Furyk has overcome Irisman Graeme McDowell to win the Chevron World Challenge by 1 shot. Furyk hopes this would be a stepping stone for the 2010 PGA Tour season.

The American has played really consitent this week and has held off a fiery Irishman to capture Tiger Woods’ tournament and end a 28 month winless streak.

Furyk finsished with a 67 and a tournament score of 13-under par and admitted after the victory that he was really frustrated to have an empty trophy cabinet since his victory at the 2007 Canadian Open.

“It’s bothered me, I’d be lying if I said otherwise,” said Furyk.

“That’s your goal every year, to go out there and win and I haven’t been able to do it in two full seasons on the tour. Hopefully this will be a stepping stone. You get one (win) under your belt and hopefully I can keep it going next year.”

Furyk had a tricky putt on the 17th hole after finding the bunker on the par-3 but made a long one to give him an edge over the Irishman.

Lee Westwood and Padraig finished tied third on 11-under par and really gave Jim a run for his money but their efforts  just wasn’t good enough. Ian Poulter, Cink and Johnson finished four shots back on 9-under par.

Y.E Yang fell out of contention early on Sunday with a 74.

TIGER’S TRAGIC TALE..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives.

The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy.

I realize there are some who don’t share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it’s difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”

TIGER’S LATEST NEWS…

 

Jaimee Grubbs, a 24-year-old cocktail waitress who appeared on the inaugural season of VH1’s Tool Academy, tells she began having an affair with the golfer in April 2007.

She says the two have had 20 sexual encounters, and that she has possession of voice-mail messages, photos and more than 300 naughty texts to prove it.

She also confirmed that she has evidence of a voicemail Tiger had sent to her and it says:

“Hey, it’s Tiger, I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye.” 

Who knows what’s going to happen?  One thing is for sure and this is that Tiger might have to come clean on this before it gets ugly.

ITALY CAUSE HUGE UPSET AT WORLD CUP

Italy have caused a huge upset at the Omega World Cup on Sunday after coming from 3 shots behind to win by a stroke.

The Molinari brothers finished with a four-under 68 to end their tournament on 29-under-par and that gave them a 1 shot victory over the Irish and Sweden who played 70 and 69 respectively.

The Italian brothers started of solidly but on the back nine made the charge and took the lead with 3 long-range birdie putt’s holed by younger brother Francesco and then a tap-in birdie for Edoardo at the last to clinch the title.

The Irish duo who had led the tournament from day one got off to a flying start on Sunday making a stretch of four consecutive birdie’s and creating an early 3-shot lead. A second bogey on 8 and a 2 ft par putt missed on 10 put them in a 3-way-tie for the lead.

After sharing the lead with a birdie at the 11th the Italian’s made a huge birdie putt on the 12th to go 1 shot ahead of the Swedish and Ireland.

Francesco made another putt on the 13th to give them a two-shot-lead with five holes to play as the Irish rolled another birdie past the hole. Italy and Ireland then made birdie’s on the 15th to go one shot behind Italy.

The Challenger’s didn’t make anymore birdie’s thru the closing holes and Italy went to the last just needing to make a par. Brother Edoardo pushed his approach into the green side bunker and left Francesco with a tricky shot but the Italian held his nerve and gave his older brother a tap-in birdie to win the Omega World Cup.

Francesco Molinari, who claimed seven top-10 finishes this season, was delighted with the way he and his brother were able to clinch victory.

“It’s been a tough day and we have been playing against some of the best golfers in the world. It was really tough until the last, but it feels even better when it is like that,” he said.

“It’s really great for Italy. I think we deserved it as we attacked from the first day with every putt and every shot and we tried to make as many birdies as possible.

“I was lucky to hole two big putts on 12 and 13 which were probably the key moment and we just had to hang in there and hope for the best.”

IRISH LEAD UNDER THREAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Omega World Cup now lies in the balance with the Irish Duo carding a bogey-free 64 to move to 26-under for the tournament and now only has a one-shot lead over the Swedes and Italy.

The fourballs really saw big moves from the field on Saturday and this makes for a really intriguing finish to Sunday’s play.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell didn’t have the brilliance and dominance as they had in Thursday’s first round but they still managed to card a nice bogey-free 64. They will have a little more pressure to deal with as the Swedes and Italian’s breathe down their necks tomorrow.

Henrik Stenson and partner Robert Karlsson played a brilliant 62 and the duo is still bogey-free in the tournament as they see themselves tied for second on 25-under-par. The Italian Molinari brothers played a flawless 61 to jump right up there with the Swedes.

World number 10 McIlroy reflected: “It was still a productive day. We had a three-shot lead going out and it is now down to a one-shot lead, but we still very positive going into tomorrow.

“The holes that we played well, we both seemed to play well and that doesn’t work very well in fourball, but we both played well. We probably left a few shots out there, but we are still in a great position going into tomorrow and we are still very positive.”

“It seems to be a three-horse race, so barring any disasters in the foursomes, I can’t see anyone but the top three teams winning,” said McDowell.

We are both playing well and both playing with a lot of confidence, but we just didn’t get the ball on the green today.

“We both played well on the same holes and didn’t help each other out as we did on Thursday, but generally we both put the ball in play and both played well and we are both looking forward to tomorrow.”

 

TIGER SURVIVES FROM CAR ACCIDENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiger Woods has been released from hospital after emerging from a minor car crash with nothing more than ‘facial lacerations’.

 Early reports claimed the 33-year-old was seriously injured after hitting a fire hydrant and then a tree after pulling out of his driveway in the early hours of Friday morning.

However, his agent Mark Steinberg says Woods is ‘fine’. The world number one was at the wheel of his sports utility vehicle when the incident happened not far from his Florida home, and was subsequently taken to Health Central Hospital.

The Orange County Fire Rescue said it received a call about the accident at 2.28am ET (7.28am GMT), but the Florida Highway Patrol did not report it until almost 12 hours later.

The FHP added that the incident was still under investigation and charges were pending.

Released Local Mayor Gary Bruhn, whose police department responded to the incident, told CNN: “An accident occurred about 2:30 this morning and Windermere police were first upon the scene because basically we’re right there and can arrive within a minute and a half.

 ”I understand that there were some facial lacerations and he was taken to Health Central Hospital where he was treated and then I’m told he was released.

” Bruhn said he did not know the specifics of the incident but added that the fact that charges were pending was a routine part of any accident investigation.

 ”Something like this would be just an ongoing investigation,” he added. “I think it’s nothing more than an accident but from that standpoint they’ve got to let everything run its full course and do the investigation to see what was involved.

 ”I’m told that could take a number of days to come to its conclusion.” The 14-time major winner is scheduled to host his own tournament, the Chevron World Challenge, next week in California.

IRISH STILL LEADING AT MISSION HILLS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Irish have retained their 3-shot lead in Shenzen after carding a 68 in Friday’s round of foursomes.

The Irish duo started out nicely giving themselves an early five-shot lead on Friday however, they had a little slump during the middle part of the round and recuperated in the latter part of the round.

The big charge of the day came from the Swedish team as they played a flawless 65 which got them right back in the thick of things and now in a sole second position.

The Italian Molinari brothers stuck together nicely to go to 14-under and the Japanese just a further 3 strokes behind them.

McIlroy said that they were happy with the day’s work even though they had some blunders, stating: “We started out the day with a three-shot lead and we still have a three-shot lead, it was a good day.

“This format is a lot trickier than the fourball, you have to rely on your partner to get you out of trouble, while you have to take responsibility in the fourball.

“I think we would have taken 68 on the first tee. We had a goal which was to get a bit lower than that, but we played pretty solid and apart from the couple of mistakes on the back nine, we could have got a better score.

“I think we really showed good character to come back with the two birdies on 16 and 17 after the double bogey, it was a good days work.”

THE FLYING IRISH LEADS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy was flying past the field on the first day of the Omega World Cup carding a fourteen-under par (58) and taking a healthy 3-shot lead over the field.

The two Irishman had a perfect day out there splitting the round nicely with seven-under par individually and narrowly breaking the course record being only one shot off.

There’s definitely some surprises on top of the leaderboard with the Argentinian duo of Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya carding a lovely round of eleven-under and now in a sole second position. The Japan team of Hiroyuki Fujita and Ryuji Imada are in third place on ten-under.

Defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson are in a nice position on eight-under just 6 shots of the pace. It will be still fresh in their minds, the six-shot come-from-behind win in last year’s event.

The Irish definitely showed the standard needed to win this year by making a bogey-free round and carding twelve birdie’s along with an eagle from McIlroy.

“It’s the best score I have ever had,” said McIlroy. “We got off to a great start and birdied the holes we had to on the front nine where there are three par fives. And from there we kept it going and birdied the holes other teams weren’t getting birdies on.

“We didn’t have any mistakes and we had a look at two birdie chances on most holes and most of the time we took one of them. It was great team play and no one really put each other under pressure and I think that showed in the way the scores went.”

 

 

 

GARCIA WANTS TO CHANGE HISTORY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sergio Garcia wants to end the bad year he’s had and bring the World Cup back to Spain after the nation has struggled for 25 years to recapture the Cup.

Last year was an amazing year for Garcia after seeing him take the number-two ranking in the world from Phil Mickelson. Garcia had won the HSBC Championship late last year in Shanghai and there were talks of him winning a major this year.

The 29-year-old Spaniard hasn’t added any tournaments this year to his 19 career titles but looks to change the bad World Cup history for Spain and be the first team to win it since Jose Maria Canizares and Jose Rivero captured it in 1984.

“It would be a nice way to finish the year,” said Garcia and, will be partnered with F’dez Castano in the $5.5 million competition.

“It has been a hard year overall, but at the same time I think it’s been very positive. I think that it’s made me grow a lot, not only as a player, but as a person.”

“Obviously looking at the results, it has not been a very good year. But I feel like my game in the past probably three-plus months has been improving, and that’s a positive for next year.”