I submit that Tiger broke Francesco Molinari with his second shot on the 11th hole...the shot that Tom Friedman eloquently describes in his fine piece earlier this week.
Tiger had bogeyed the 10th hole to fall two strokes behind Molinari, exactly where he started the day. With his errant tee shot on the 11th landing in the trees, Tiger was on the ropes. Another bogey (or worse), and the tournament would likely have slipped from his grasp. The shot he hit out of the woods to the 11th green, to save par and hold the deficit to two strokes is to me the greatest single shot of his career. The objective level of difficulty, compounded by what was at stake not just for this tournament, but for Tiger's career, was simply off the charts. It was a miraculous shot.
My sense is Molinari walked to the famously intimidating 12th tee tee already a beaten man.
Tiger Woods is a Mozart with an iron will. I feel fortunate to have followed his career, his travails, his magic, his stares, his unique transcendence.
3
Was not the first time he shared the lead. He did that at six under didn’t he?
1
Thank you- a well reported moment of history.
A great American - Mr. Lincoln was said to "be long to the ages."
Well, I dare say Tiger belongs to the ages.
Congrats to Tiger.
Now, he needs to focus on beating Jack that he predicted when he was a little boy.
That day will be an amazing Nike commercial.
3
Tiger Woods earned his victory at the Masters in a manner he needed to in order to establish his game beyond those of other competitors during a tight fourth round. In doing so, he did something truly inspiring for the sport of golf & as a life's lesson.
It's a shame some commenters feel the need to try to take away from his victory. His victory is nothing less than an amazing feat of determination by one man to make his way back to the top.
Kudos to Tiger Woods!
12
Eye of the Tiger (pun intended)
4
I have no respect for anyone who plays golf with Donald Trump. No athletic skill overrides immorality, ever.
16
@robert bloom Then you must not have respect for Bill Clinton, either, as he played with Trump several times.
4
Tiger won again because he is physically able to make the shots again, AND he has the unique ability of many superior athletes who also win consistently to stay calm and focused in crunch time and not let his nerves take over his muscle controls.
It’s a unique gift that not all good athletes have, and Tiger demonstrated that gift from an early age. That was the intimidation factor he had, not a “ steely stare” at his opponents (sportswriter’s imagination). Opponents in the final holes of a close match know he is capable of amazing shot-making and that probably rattles all but those who have the same iron grip on their emotions in crunch time.
6
@JTOR Agree. "Steely stare" is just journalistic hyperbole. Making up a story to write about.
3
Eye of the Tiger
2
It’s disappointing that the reporter’s goal was to put a negative spin on Tiger’s victory. Yes, he crossed the bridge and yes he was watching his fellow competitors hit their third shots. He may have been within their view, but I doubt he would intentionally try to distract them. What should have been emphasized was his shot choice to that green, a very smart shot indeed. It’s the same shot Jack Nicklaus would have hit, right between the bunkers to take the water out of play. The players today are not nearly as intimidated by Tiger as they were 15-20 years ago. To say a look from across the Hogan bridge was why he won, detracts from the abilities of his competitors. He won because of smart shots, minimal mistakes, and course knowledge. A few mistakes from the others helped, that’s golf. Augusta National itself did more to intimidate Tiger’s competition than he ever could.
11
@RR, I'm not sure that the article is suggesting that Tiger's stance and "death stare" were the reason he won. Rather, I believe the author's point is that we saw a side of Tiger that has been largely absent for a very long time. It may have been that Tiger's demeanor and confidence both (i) helped his performance and (ii) was visible to observers.
12
@AMH
Yes! After all his name is TIGER
1
As Leo Derocher said in 1965 when 52-year old Sam Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open, "Anytime a man of 52 can beat a man of 22, it can't be much of a sport."
Meanwhile, back to the hockey playoffs.
9
@Edward Hochman
You're right and so was Leo.
It's not a sport at all.
There's no defense and you don't directly compete with a person or team.
Nothing "sporting" about it.
Check the OED.
Well, Edward, guess you should not be watching or reading about golf.
I think hockey is a sport best kept in Canada to be played by young kids on outdoor ponds in the winter, now back to golf!
3
@Edward Hochman. not only that, but the scene that takes place in the "cabin" afterwards. the most excruciatingly awkward 6 minutes in sports.
2
These golf tournaments need to address a major issue: The abuse of the "outside agency" rule by spectators was readily apparent over the four-day Masters tournament...and it makes for a completely unfair result.
Woods was the overwhelming fan favorite....like Arnold Palmer used to be in the 60's....and the spectators do their part to "assist" their favorite golfer...and "penalize" his competitors.
Almost every errant drive that Woods hit into the trees (and the spectators) just happened to end up with a perfect window to the hole for his second shot. It was so glaringly obvious what the spectators were doing when they all chase after and surround his errant tee-shots.
Without this "outside agency" assistance....Woods one-shot victory may not have happened.
7
@rfmd1 81 wins of "spectator assistance"! Now ain't that something. And you've never attended a match and recorded it on your iphone. C ya at the Bethpage, maybe?
5
@rfmd1 I've been to a half dozen Masters and dozens of other events. What you've just described simply doesn't happen. I've never seen it in over 40 years of professional golf spectating. Want to provide some evidence?
8
@rfmd1 Isn't one's agent always outside one's self?
I suggest Mr. Woods donate his winnings to not-for-profit organizations providing care to battered and abused women.
I suggest this not out of spite, but knowing that that act would give him more joy than winning any golf tournament.
12
The media has got to stop lionizing people like Woods by putting this "come back" story on the front page.
Sports marketers and agents are paid to convince journalists and some of the public into buying into myths -- this one " about a story of redemption," its historical significance, etc.
This story is about a man with hundreds of millions of dollars, who cheated obsessively on his wife (and brought home God knows what diseases); a spoiled narcissist who uses other people -- who happened to win a tournament at an advanced age by using his talent but also by disregarding rules, walking in site of his competitors and staring down his opponents.
Woods appears to be a narcissist with profound character issues.
The US media and sports media in particular have got to STOP lionizing people like this.
Most thinking people have evolved beyond "honoring" this stuff.
33
@KHD, cheating yes; obsessive ? brought home disease: says who? btw, looks healthy! advanced age? he is not old, let alone advanced! staring...moma, tell billie to stop looking at me!
Come on!
9
@KHD If his wife forgave him and moved on, then you should too.
13
@KHD Hey he gets it from his buddy Donald....
4
Great article. Eye of the Tiger (literally)
1
Tiger and Jackie
It is a failing of us as Americans that we exalt these sports heroes, without any built in benchmark associated with the way they conduct their lives; if they are good citizens, if they are a positive force in the world. If they inspire, if they live at a high moral standard . no matter what, if they can hit a golf ball further than anybody else, a baseball longer, run faster, jump higher than we feel there is something exalted about them.. . but there have been great sport athletes who not only inspired people but had a direct impact in changing the world, like Jackie Robinson, who is a true hero.
Is Tiger a great golfer, of that there is no doubt, he is one of the best to ever swing a golf club, but is is he a great sportsman or even a good person, that part unfortunately is in dispute. Has Tiger Woods ever said a word about social justice, if he has I missed it, has the man done anything except make oodles of money, and what has he done with it for the betterment of mankind? And yet they cheer. Today is Jackie Robinson day in baseball, and Robinson was a great athlete but also a great hero,. I don't know what is in Tiger's head besides making the most money in the world. Time is the great arbiter of champions, and in the end a man is measured for much more than just hitting a golf ball. Let us hope Tiger grows a moral consciousness some day... now that will be something to cheer.
Character matters. Happy Jackie Robinson day everybody.
10
@Lonnie Very well said. Unfortunately it will fall on totally deaf ears in here.
2
@Lonnie Ever hear of the TGR Foundation (Tiger's non-profit) that provides quality educational resources for students and their schools? He's doing good things for underrepresented youth to enable them to thrive in school and in their communities.
7
Bill Pennington is a very good writer and very knowledgeable about golf. But I have to wonder where his head is on this column. "An unbridled elation...that he rarely displayed when he was 20 years younger." Seriously, do you forget the fist pumps and screaming after the "better than most" chip in? How about the PGA Championship - shooting the ball into the hole? And the numerous club spins and the fist pumps (it's all on YouTube). Tiger always showed his emotions...at the right time.
Tiger's head games actually started on the first tee. Before they teed off, he said "You ready for some golf?" No reaction from Molinari or Finau, but the message was clear, "I've been here before. This is routine for me." Tiger's best move on 12 was his shot. After watching Molinari dunk it, Tiger actually played it safe with the shot to the middle of the green. Something Molinari should have done but he pressed at the wrong time.
4
I hope he has found some new (non-misogynistic) ways to celebrate his accomplishment.
3
I have a feeling you spend a lot of your life crying.
9
Tiger, Tiger, burning bright. !!!!!
2
Good for Tiger. I was doubtful that he would ever win another major after over a decade of not doing so. He proved that he can so there should really be little doubt that he can break the record. He is certainly one of the greatest and most likely the greatest golfer ever, and justifiably so.
2
What a comeback!! Proving all wrong. A testament to human spirit and more importantly accolades to his fortitude. I can only imagine the personal grit overcoming of obstacles and his personal journey that got him here. Inspiring!!
9
F. Scott Fitzgerald: "I once thought there were NO SECOND ACTS in American lives....."
And I rather thought that applied to Tiger Woods.....boy was I wrong.
And I'm surprised at my own joy that Tiger is back.
I hope he's back to stay.
Yes, he was and probably still is a 'bad boy'.
But on the golf course he is that rare combination of outstanding skill and riveting personality that makes him a pleasure to watch.
5
"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger."
2
Happy for Tiger and the Master's drama. But those other guys weren't far behind. One hole, #12, did them in. And Koepka missed a putt that would have put him one back. Dustin roared back to close at 2nd. Give him his due, especially given the physical issues. But don't start handing out the next 3 majors just yet. Should be fun to watch.
1
Just do it, Tiger.
1
Four takeaways from yesterday;
1) From my perch it was Mr. Molinari's to lose, and lose he did.
2) I'm sure Tiger was living inside Francesco's and Tony's head when they woke up yesterday morning.
3) Tiger was steady all day and his vast experience did win the tournament.
4) Tiger's back.
8
The sports history of America is dotted with these singular talents, these super-athletes who are given so much talent that we see in them some of that fearful symmetry that we see in the immortals. The same hand that blessed the hand of Michelangelo, or the feet of Ana Pavlova, the mind of Spielberg , that same hand of destiny is at work in the likes of Tiger Woods, and we can only watch and Marvel as he makes a golf ball bend to his will and a golf course that humbles other crumbles in front of his determined stare. This same hand formed the world and the oceans and Time itself. The best news is that this perfect symmetry, this greatness on display, this story of the man who has to contain all this greatness and all this fame, this flawed man, the best news is that his story, his amazing story is not over....not yet...and not for a long while.
5
To do what Tiger did--with Joe Namath knees and a scrap-yard back--is beyond my comprehension.
To say he is a testament to grit and determination is an understatement.
Amazing achievement, Mr. Woods. Amazing.
18
Tiger for President! We need someone who can stare Trump down and trounce him at golf.
4
@Paul Wortman Anyone can beat Trump at golf. All you have to do is catch him cheating and it's an automatic DQ.
6
The new Tiger is the same as the old Tiger. Unable to interact with the patrons at Augusta National, disdainful of the press, and arrogant to a fault. I remember following him for a few holes at the first U.S. Open at Bethpage. He would not even make eye contact with the young fans who cheered him, often brushing by them on the way from the last green to the next tee box, when all they wanted was a fist bump or a souvenir golf ball. Not a nice guy in any way, shape or form.
5
@paul
There was a lot of interaction at Augusta after he won. He also seemed to have a nice rapport with the press and was fully engaged during the endless interviews and photo opps afterward. Golfers have to maintain a level of intensity that is not understood by non professionals. Losing focus to make eye contact with fans or fist bump with yokels like you're out for a weekend game would only lead to losing. The proof is in the pudding, why should he change? To
make you feel good?
10
@paul Interesting - I had the opposite reaction. Yesterday, he did slap hands with patrons after he won, he's been more relaxed and less guarded in his press interviews, and he's even made friends on the tour, who waited by the clubhouse to congratulate. Because you're right, that's not how he used to be. Nice to see him evolve.
5
What I saw was the grit and determination to extradite himself time and time again after errant tee shots. Kinda like real life. If Tiger isn't GOAT he certainly is in the group with Jones and Nicklaus. Great sport, great show.
2
why no picture of the "stare"??
13
That outrageous smile on his face says it all.
I feel almost as thrilled for Tiger Woods as he himself feels. I am so dang proud and happy for him.
Best comeback story - ever! And a victory obtained without the use of any enhancement drugs. Just plain hard word, determination, talent and a little bit of luck.
4
@Marge Keller Guess you don't know much about Ben Hogan, do you? Look it up. As for no PEDS, really?
2
On the 12th, Finau and Molinari were stalling for the weather (wind) to get worse. Tiger's tee shots (drivers) were occasionally errant, the wind could have played him OOB on the remaining tees. Tiger wanted to play at a faster pace to avoid the wind that did eventually knock down his fairway iron approach shot on the 18th. I've delivered more intimidating glares on a putt-putt course. Idiots are always gawking at the windmill hole.............
1
@Mike I think it is more likely that Finau and Molinari realized that they were on 12 at the Masters on Sunday. That's more than enough to stop a player in their tracks for a while. Molinari, usually reliably solid under pressure, wiped his tee shot. Nothing more complicated than that, I think. Molinari's weirdly bad escape from the trees on 15 is the really puzzling shot. That finished him.
Great story. Where is the picture of the stare?
7
With the "death stare" as the dominant focus of this piece, NYT should have included a photo of Tiger to show the stare to the readers.
9
Where is Herbert Warren Wind when you really need him?
1
There are many remarkable comeback stories and with respect to the world of modern day golf, this one will linger on, perhaps for years.
I am among those that wanted to immortalize Woods as both a great champion and role model. I was also one of those that first, didn't want to believe the rumors swirling. And then I took refuge in the fact that I too was blinded by the bright light of someone unworthy.
Is Tiger Woods deserving of my disgust or my adulation? I don't know. If he bests Jack Nicklaus in his quest for more majors, will there be an asterisks next to his name for his drug use then or because doping isn't a PGA thing, won't it matter? Or will massive infidelity in a game that is so often ended in family hugs really matter now or years from now?
It's golf! Who knows and who cares?
The reality though remains. For four consecutive rounds of golf - against this level of opponents - on this level of playing surface - and under Major pressure, Mr. Woods, not the youngest tool in the shed, held on. That is what makes professional golf so intriguing.
And as a mid-50-yearold, one recovering from five back surgeries similar to Tiger's, his victory yesterday provides me with hope that I may one day break 90.
4
I just love the Masters. This year certainly did not disappoint. Tiger is a true champion and leader. He is so open and engaging. It is wonderful that everyone of every persuasion likes him. He is a model of how we should treat people of color.
3
@twr Or, maybe, just people in general?
10
A lot of these comments remind me of those I saw after Nipsey Hussle's recent passing. In both cases, a black man had overcome his own personal mistakes and past poor behavior to become an example of redemption and high-level success. And in both cases, some white people have shown that there will never be enough for a black man can do to achieve legitmacy in their eyes.
10
@boourns Welcome to America....
I certainly understand why people may think Tiger's winning the Masters this weekend is the greatest sports comeback. I think it ranks behind Jack Niclaus' 1986 win. Jack was 46 versus Tiger 43. Jack had a 13 year gap versus Tiger's 11. Jack has 6 Green Jacks to Tiger's 5. Jack has 18 major wins versus Tiger's 15. Close, but second place.
2
@Brian It also ranks well behind Ben Hogan's comeback after a horrific accident, when his car was hit by a bus. He was told he might never walk again. Obviously he did so, but always in pain, long before the current advances in pain relief and rehabilitation were in place. And he came back to win all three majors in which he played in 1953. (The PGA and the Open championship were played in consecutive weeks, so players had to choose one, since they traveled across the Atlantic on ships.)
8
@Harvey Green
Yes indeed. Could not agree more.
1
We Americans love a story of redemption. Hopefully Tiger has made amends with his family members who were done a disservice a decade ago. That said, I'm happy to see him back in the winner's circle and wish him the best in this new chapter of his career.
3
I suppose bowling was the very first game ever invented by the cavemen, after which came golf.
If they could be brought back to earth for just a few days, they would be undoubtedly be pleased to learn how far their inventions have come and meet up with some of their descendants at Mar-a-Lago who are still around.
2
... they would undoubtedly be pleased ....
2
That's quite an achievement by Woods. Nothing more, nothing less. You don't redeem yourself - as a disgusting number of his fans have said here - by winning a golf tournament but by living a good life, which he can do privately and on his own time. He's never been a particularly interesting or engaging man who had concerns outside his own life except for the nearest cocktail waitress. That's what make Ali, Roberto Clemente and a handful of other sports giants so special. They cared.
9
It was a great comeback for Tiger. However, even he admits that Ben Hogan's return to golf in 1950 after almost dying in a car crash, was spectacular. Hogan won the US open that year.
2
I'm glad I lived to see that.
2
When he lost in Austin after missing a put, he went back and re-shot the put to understand what went wrong. An amazing competitor. You could tell he would stop at nothing short of perfection.
1
For more than a decade, Tiger Woods has been a man with something to prove. How can you scale back or move on when your reputation is in tatters? Watching him out there with his bad back and battered joints, slugging it out to make the cut, has made this victory all the sweeter. He has proven himself to be resilient and I, for one, applaud.
3
As a golfer myself who had back surgery a couple of months ago, don't sell this athlete short for what he has physically and mentally overcome. To return to this level of play, winning the Masters, after four back surgeries, the last being a fusion, is nothing short of a phenominal athletic comeback.
3
Had always thought of golf as a boring, maddeningly slow game for minor-achiever athletes. That is, until I tried to hit a golf ball. Ouch. This is a game of precision, strength, and focus, focus, focus. Don't follow the sport, but did follow Tiger Woods' through his up-down-but-never-quite-out trajectory, and was thrilled at his Masters triumph on Sunday. Naysayers? Permit me a quote from a long ago book: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone."
7
@Katherine Brennan...well said...well said
2
It is ridiculous to get so emotionally invested in a golf match, but 2019 has been a challenging year, and in just the past four days, it feels like things are back on course, no pun intended.
I am so glad Tiger won.
He's gone through so many life scenarios these last years, many due to personal actions or choices.
But to see a man or woman, against heavy odds, buck up and regain their inner power is so thrilling!
Great job Tiger!!
3
So what?
If Tiger Woods was not a black male playing professional golf at very high level he would be invisible.
Indeed the fact that he has Asian aka Thai heritage is overlooked.
Golf is not a team sport. Donald Trump plays golf. Golf is not a sport for the poor. Golf is not a sport requiring endurance and stamina
Tiger Woods is no Jackie Robinson nor Muhammad Ali. It has always been all about the babes, the fame and the Benjamins for Tiger Woods.
5
@Blackmamba You're right in the general sense that golf at any level is not a poor person's game. But it's not necessarily that way. There are many programs in place for kids who don't come from a privileged background - and Woods sponsors one of them with a foundation he established - and plenty of public courses, many of them quite reasonably priced. And there are and have been poor people who have gone on to great careers in professional golf--Francis Ouimet, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, Calvin Peete, and two players in the hunt at this year's Masters--Tony Finau and Ian Poulter. They are in a minority, to be sure, but they are still there.
4
I'm happy for him but lets not forget he's worth about 800 million dollars so he was always going to be alright.
1
@joe Well, he would always be rich, but "alright" is a far deeper issue.
5
I wonder if he's had some therapy to quell his self-criticism. He seemed much calmer after making hitting mistakes.
1
The premise of Pennington's article is a little silly, as if we are to believe that Tiger's stare scared other players- please.. Fake news anyone? It belittles his great play, the incalculable value of his experience, and, as always, his steely self control and determination.
1
@CBTA I agree that this article was fluff written by a golf writer who does not always rise to the occasion. Moreover, Pennington appears to approve of Tiger's behavior--standing on the green as other players are to hit and twirling his club as he sauntered to the bridge--both of which might well be called "bush." He's Tiger Woods; he doesn't need to act like that.
2
This is so true. Watching the scene at the 12th, and said to myself just do the jacket presentation here because these guys are mentally cooked,
2
I missed the stare down of his playing partners. A photo of that glaring moment included in this insightful article would have made it even better.....
1
As a geezer who loves golf and has always been inspired by Tiger, watching his match moves yesterday was delight in the purest sense. His physical game and mental intimidation worked hand in hand to bring about the most exciting golf competition this new generation has experienced. All the new leading golfers had a chance and only Tiger was left standing. Koepka laughed in amazement when he missed an easy putt near the end, and Johnson faltered, and four went in the water, two in bunkers. Golf is exiting again. Not just watching great golfers and saying ho-hum. Competition at its best. Thank you, Tiger.
3
As a people, we love to forgive transgressions. We’ve done that with Tiger. We’ve also done that-perhaps more justifiably-with the late Charles Van Doren, who after his cheating scandal, lived a rather reclusive life, always under the shadow of a blue blood who disgraced himself and his family name. He was shamed and acknowledged it. Some today are utterly shameless in their malevolent use of power and deserve no forgiveness. Ever!
1
For all those who love to criticize the guy, boy am I glad that the dumbest things I've ever done never wound up on the front page of a newspaper. He's made his mistakes. We all have. Good for you, Tiger.
4
You can't help but admire Tiger Woods perseverance.
After the deep funk he was in after his father's death and his physical ailments, he came back and reclaimed the game he loved so much.
1
Happy to see you back on top of the leader board, Tigger!!
The golfing event this past Sunday was not the Masters. It was "The Tiger."
Oh please. Enough with the gushing hyperbole, and the talk of heroics. He won a golf tournament. He did not charge into a burning building to save a life. He did not put himself in harm’s way, at risk to life and limb, in service to fellow human beings. He didn’t donate one of his kidneys to someone on dialysis. He won a golf tournament that’s utterly meaningless to 99.99999% of humanity. Period.
1
@James Murrow Like the Olympics?
@A Thomas 👍
Oh please. Enough with the gushing prose and all the hyperbole. “Inimitable fortitude”? “Death stare”? You’ve got to be kidding. He won a golf tournament. He did not charge into a burning building to save a life. He did not put himself in harm’s way, at risk to life and limb, in service to fellow human beings. He didn’t donate one of his kidneys to a dialysis patient. He won a golf tournament that’s utterly meaningless to 99.99999% of humanity. Period.
1
Used to be a huge Woods fan until the revelation that he was a philanderer and wife beater. Then learned he was a golfing pal of Trump. Makes sense that he would align himself with Trump another philanderer. Hope his next win is another 10 years away. My unhappiness with Woods is brought to you by our Divider-in-chief, Donald Trump.
3
@Steve - He was never a wife beater. Please stop piling on. His philanderring was bad enough
3
Demonstrating yet again that good things happen to bad people.
2
Nice article but shouldn't there be a picture of the stare in question? Seems kind of like putting Bob Ross on the radio...
1
Most of us don't care. Put this story in the sports section where it belongs.
2
I most enjoyed Tiger's demeanor change.
From Anger to Steely grim focused determination.
BP has missed the green with this shot. Tiger may be back, but I didn’t see any death stares, rather a more open, friendlier and appealing version of the Tiger of old.
7
Not a golf player or even a fan. In fact there are many aspects of the sociology of the game that give me pause. But I found myself rooting for Tiger with every update I received on my cell phone. Just a heartening human story.
11
It's interesting to read the views of people who are bent on castigating Woods for his personal missteps, large as they may have been -- as if they are any of our business. I'm sure the same people would have rooted for Icarus to melt his wings and fall to his death if they'd been around at the time. Woods' achievement yesterday is a GOLF achievement, and one of the more remarkable in the game's history. THAT is why it's front-page news. Those who want to put Woods on a pedestal for other reasons are welcome to do so if they so choose, just as those who want to criticize anything he does are equally within their rights to despise all things Tiger. But let's not conflate the two worlds. For an athlete to rise to the top of his sport in an event this prestigious 22 years after first winning the event is and should be very newsworthy, regardless of one's opinion of the man.
31
@David DeSmith Also interesting that the people on Tiger's case don't take the opportunity to insist that mention of Donald Trump's extramarital misdeeds don't appear in every article that mentions his name.
5
If I remember correctly, this is the first time he has come from behind to win a major. I expect Nicklaus did that a number of times. It seems like the original Tiger could intimidate when he was ahead, but not when he was behind, and/or he lacked some degree of resolve if he had to come from behind on Sunday.
1
Tiger is an all-time great golfer, for sure, but it's fascinating to watch how, for most people, brilliance, winning, conquering and success so easily elide into moral admiration. That's why, to this day, everyone admires Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar--two of history's greatest mass murderers.
3
@Emile
That's a bit severe. I always tell my children to admire the athletic feat, and not the presumption the one accomplishing it is automatically a good person, which we are not necessarily privy to. However, seeing now Woods having someone to hug when he didn't through golf victories in the last decade through his own moral undoing, and that his circle of support now is essentially his family, is part of a human redemption story that we get a glimpse of in its goodness.
1
@Emile Show me one historically lauded male without a hand in violent conflict. They are few and very far between.
People are saying it’s wonderful he has overcome all the obstacles he’s faced in his personal and professional life. Okay...but let’s not forget many, if not most, of those obstacles were self-imposed.
13
@Cate
He back injury was self-imposed only to the extent that the stress his muscles placed on his bones when he swung was greater that his back could withstand.
In any case, just because the obstacles were self-imposed does not make his overcoming them any less impressive.
Many of life's obstacles are self-imposed and we all struggle to overcome them. Tiger seems to have succeeded.
13
@Cate, that's why this is so great, because there IS redemption. We can rise above our own self-created disasters and learn from them. I say hooray for Tiger!
13
@Bill White Yes I agree he seems to have won his struggle ... and I wish him continued good golfing!
My dad, the golfer loved Tiger. My Mom, the golf watcher loved him too. I like to think they were both looking down or maybe even strolling around the course together enjoying another Tiger win.
15
I am thrilled for Tiger Woods...and I don't even follow golf.
His win at the Masters Sunday was a hard fought victory for him…and also for men.
But, I disagree with your analysis; Tiger isn’t back because he’s regained his “steely resolve.” He’s back because he’s a man in balance now.
It's clear Tiger has worked hard, not only on his golf game and his physical health, but also on his emotional well-being. Sports psychologist David L. Cook observed that Tiger is “one of the most mentally tough golfers of all time.”
Indeed he is. However, in significant ways it was that mental toughness instilled in him by his Green Beret father that led to Tiger’s lack of ability to create an emotionally healthy and fulfilling personal life…which then led to out of control choices.
As a life coach for 20 years, I’ve worked with many men for whom the pressure to be “mentally tough” - to the neglect of their emotional well-being - caused them to make less than ideal choices.
Men do not need to be more like women. However, men do, in their own unique ways, need balance, emotional connection, intimacy and fulfillment.
It appears that is what Tiger has found, the balance of mental toughness with emotional maturity and fulfillment. And God bless him, he has done so with great…humility.
Thank goodness we didn't eject him from his profession, nor banish him from the public eye...like we do to some men now.
Tiger is a true master for our times. Not only as an athlete...but as a man.
75
@Kelly Grace Smith Aptly said. His humility has heightened him.
4
I agree, Kelly, his emotional maturity may be what allows him to focus now.
But, it’s a bit soon to say he’s has put his life together permanently. We need to see a few more years of this new Tiger before we can feel comfortable it’s a permanent change.
I wish him and his family all the best, and hope to see it happen by his actions over time.
4
Tigers story resembles the mythical heros journey. Success, adversity, redemption. He is the Luke Skywalker of our time.
6
Woods' victory reflected the redemption narrative so beloved by Americans (and many others). It was like the film version of "The Natural," in which the young phenom is taken down and slowly makes his way back to the top. By the time he makes it, he is middle-aged, which makes it all the sweeter. The literary version of "The Natural" is much more true to real life, but that isn't what people want in these dark days--or any others. We want the one Tiger gave us on Sunday.
13
@kathleen cairns
Redemption: the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
Just how has he redempted himself, except for getting his golf-game back?
1
What a great result! As a Tiger aficionado through thick and thin years I'd waited for this confirmation that he is in fact the greatest golfer the game has ever seen.
As a personal sports memory, it almost (but not quite) tops going to Belmont to watch "Big Red" (Secretariat) win the Triple Crown in '73!
8
@Walter Schlech MD, MACP, FRCPC I've been a Tiger fan forever and a day - and always will be. But watching Secretariat do what he did in '73? Well, that is in a galaxy all by itself. But of course, you're not comparing a horse to a tiger. I get it.
1
When they showed a list of most major wins after the tournament, one thing stood out to me.
There's Nicklaus and Woods.
Then, there's Hagen, Hogan and Player.
Even before yesterday's win, only two players had one the Grand Slam more than once. Both Nicklaus and Woods won it 3 times. 3 times!!! Others won it once, a monumental achievement on its own.
Bobby Jones was one of the greatest and won the Grand Slam of his day in one year.
But, only two men have won it more than once. And, only one remains who can win it one more time. A tall order. Woods has to win both US and British Opens again.
He has a chance to tie or surpass the great Nicklaus, but against all odds, he can also be the only man in history to win 4 grand slams. I had been getting a little bored with golf despite the superb younger players. But now I have to watch.
We all have to watch.
22
@Lewis Waldman
I admire Tiger Woods greatly but do hope he does not surpass Jack Nicklaus. Mr.Nicklaus is my all-time sporting hero.
1
@Lewis Waldman No, we don't.
@Lewis Waldman, in addition, he only needs two more wins to surpass Sam Snead for most tour wins all time.
1
Glad to see this! Far worse individuals in sports were treated better than he was during this ‘fall from grace’, glad he was able to recover and regain his focus.
21
No matter how your feel about him personally, golf is better with Tiger in it.
I was riveted to the the TV, and I haven't watched a golf tournament in years. What a show!
39
I agree with the column premise. An actual photo of Tiger waiting on 12 would have been nice.
I noticed Tiger out of position in fairways as well. That is really not sporting.
4
I noticed that too. But I also noticed that Molineri was out of position and I wondered if there were suggestions that all players be ready to play to speed up the pace to avoid bad weather.
15
As a sometime golfer I need some help understanding "out of position".
An article about a stare and yet (in the 21st century no less) no pix. Really?
1
Disappointing. I thought Tiger was done and hoped he was.The man is not a story of redemption and return but a fairy tale that happens so rarely in real life that no reasonable person can believe it.
5
I had a feeling on Friday he was going to make this happen. On Sunday, if you watched, you knew it. When others went up and back down by a stroke, he held on steadily. No bogies on the back 9 when others could not avoid that. He appeared calm and was most definitely the competitive Tiger we remember sans fist pump which showed me a more mature player and that realized he needed to be cool about it and not assuming as another major win unfolded for him.
The green jacket ceremony in the den thing was boring and should have been held outside where the fans were. A bit dry and old fashioned really. The history speaks for itself. To sit in a stuffy old clubhouse den chair when you just won the Masters and your first major in years felt impossible.
Well done Tiger!
9
@LAS
I completely agree with you about the handing over of the green jacket. Almost like an afterthought. Needs much more pomp and circumstance since it’s considered such a big deal to get it.
7
@LAS I agree to a point. The ceremony is boring and can't compete with the excitement of the day's play. I turn the channel.
@LAS Regarding the Ceremony, there IS an "outdoor ceremony" where the green jacket is placed on the champion!... the quiet ceremony in the Butler Cabin is a quaint, made-for-TV ritual only. They do it all over again, a few minutes later, for all in attendance, to massive applause from the members and patrons.
5
That stare seems to have intimidated 2 (maybe 4?) contenders into hitting into the water before the stare even happened! Wow!
8
@B honestly, an emerging champion doesn't fold just because another is a stroke or two ahead. thats what Tiger showed us.
1
@B They're golfers, not Navy SEALS. An angry stare from a Cub Scout would intimidate them. When he can stare down James Harrison it might be worthy of reporting.
@B
It's what we refer to as "stare decisis", which could bode well for Tiger's continuing good fortune.
When I was a kid (and young golfer) Arnie was my guy. I was captured in the mystique of "Arnie's Army", yet I had a great admiration for Jack when he began breaking records and dominating the "majors". I watched Tiger win the US Amateur when he was 18 in 1994. He proceeded to win the US Amateur the next two years before turning pro in the Fall of 1996. Tiger won 2 of those tournaments in the Fall of 1996...setting the stage for 1997. That's the year Tiger not only won the Masters...but he won by 12 shots! The other pros were left astonished and humbled by that performance. The golf world had never witnessed such a level of domination. The Masters' committee proceeded to move back the championship tees at Augusta to "Tiger-proof" the course!
The young, athletic golfers of today (Koepka, Johnson, McElroy, etc.) were motivated to pursue golf seriously because of Tiger and the effect he had on the game of golf.
Tiger's comeback began with his win at the Tour Championship last year at East Lake. Now Tiger will have his sights set on the US Open Championship which will be at Pebble Beach. By the way, in 2000 Tiger won the US Open at Pebble Beach.... by 10 shots.
I'm not expecting Tiger to win in 2019 against the "young bucks" of today... but it would be special, wouldn't it?
16
"And what of the death stare from the 12th green as he waited for his chief rivals to sort out their troubles at the very center of the classically crucial Amen Corner?"
Indeed. There's no picture of it to accompany the story. Why not?
13
This article by Pennington seems to paint Mr. Woods as some sort of Gothic villain, using his stare to intimidate his opponents. Other writers have gotten it right that a large part of winning at golf is staying focused and concentrating on your game and the next shot. If that looks like a stare to Pennington, the rest of us saw it as a great athlete going about his business. Saying that Mr. Woods did something nefarious to win is unjust and unwarranted.
7
A reasonable golfer, not a role model (for how to behave as a man).
4
@Carl Reasonable? 15 major championships is a reasonable golfer? Please.
3
@Carl Would you also say, Amazon has a reasonable online retail presence.
2
This story is too much of a reach. As much as I cheered and delighted in Tiger's victory and comeback, please, leave off with the stare business. The 12th hole has often been the site of players falling from contention. Not so long ago, remember Spieth? Tiger had nothing to do with that, either. And even in this tournament, Koepka rallied in admirable fashion after his dunking. Yes, he "should" have made that last short putt on 18, but how many short putts did Tiger, himself, miss throughout his four rounds? Let us glory in Tigers wonderful reemergence, but let's not create a false mythology.
12
The “devilish” twelfth is what got Venturi all tangled up with Palmer all those years ago (‘64), and for the rest of his (Ken’s) injury-shortened career....so fitting in a way that it would also bedevil Molinari in his quest to hold Woods down from his comeback and a shot at his own first green jacket. The swirling winds and ghosts of Rae Creek and the Hogan Bridge hold secrets yet to be written; dramas saved perhaps for another generation.
4
I feel for Molinari and Finau. I get that look from my wife after I’ve cooked and used every dish in the kitchen instead of a single saucepan.
8
This was not the "old Tiger" that won the Masters. This was a much older and more mature Tiger. He simply does not have the shot making ability he had when he was younger. Instead, he has found consistency and plays within his ability. Yes, he's still amazingly athletic, but no where near where he once was. I think we'll be hearing from Tiger for a while, but he's not going to blow away the competition like he once did; he spawned a new generation of even stronger, more athletic golfers that will not wilt in his presence.
1
@Joe Martens In his 2006 British Open win, Woods hit his driver only once in four rounds. He played "within his ability", avoiding errors. Consistency has been a feature of Woods play whenever he has been in form.
1
Tiger has been through a lot both in his personal and professional life these past few years. I am happy for him, his mom and his children !
5
Wow, it takes a really strong person to overcome the kind of personal and public obstacles that Tiger faced. Congratulations Tiger!
3
I am not currently a golfer, but I know some of the rules of golf etiquette, which include not doing things with distract a golfer's swing. It seems to me that walking ahead of another golfer and standing near his line of sight would be one such distraction. In fact, when I used to play with my grandfather, he always admonished me to stay behind an opponent until after they shot.
8
@Hah! The exception is when your ball is on the green and the other players are not, in this case because they hit their tee shots in the water. Tiger crossed the bridge to mark his ball and then moved to the side of the green. You do that to avoid your ball being hit. I doubt if the alleged "stare" was noticed by the other players at a distance of sixty feet. The intimidation is the fact that he hit a better shot!
1
Tiger’s celebration showed more joy than I’ve ever seen from him. I recall more intensity and fist pumps. He seemed truly happy with his kids and family. This is what makes sports so great.
2
Woods had his hat pulled down and had a look on his face that reminded me of my cat when he's hunting. Pure concentration on the target ready to pounce at the slightest miscalculation.
On a golf course, Tiger is the ultimate predator.
1
I watched Tiger win the US Amateur when he was 18 in 1994. He proceeded to win the US Amateur the next two years before turning pro in the Fall of 1996. Tiger won 2 of those tournaments in the Fall of 1996...setting the stage for 1997. That's the year Tiger not only won the Masters...but he won by 12 shots! The other pros were left astonished and humbled by that performance. The golf world had never witnessed such a level of domination. The Masters' committee proceeded to move back the championship tees at Augusta to "Tiger-proof" the course!
The young, athletic golfers of today (Koepka, Johnson, McElroy, etc.) were motivated to pursue golf seriously because of Tiger and the effect he had on the game of golf.
Tiger's comeback began with his win at the Tour Championship last year at East Lake. Now Tiger will have his sights set on the US Open Championship which will be at Pebble Beach. By the way, in 2000 Tiger won the US Open at Pebble Beach.... by 10 shots.
I'm not expecting Tiger to win in 2019 against the "young bucks" of today... but it would be special, wouldn't it?
3
I am thrilled for Tiger Woods...and I don't even follow golf.
His win at the Masters Sunday was a hard fought victory for him…and also for men.
But, I disagree with your analysis; Tiger isn’t back because he’s regained his “steely resolve.” He’s back because he’s a man in balance now.
It's clear Tiger has worked hard, not only on his golf game and his physical health, but also on his emotional well-being. Sports psychologist David L. Cook observed that Tiger is “one of the most mentally tough golfers of all time.”
Indeed he is. However, in significant ways it was that mental toughness instilled in him by his Green Beret father that led to Tiger’s lack of ability to create an emotionally healthy and fulfilling personal life…which then led to out of control choices.
As a life coach for 20 years, I’ve worked with many men for whom the pressure to be “mentally tough” - to the neglect of their emotional well-being - caused them to make less than ideal choices.
Men do not need to be more like women. However, men do, in their own unique ways, need balance, emotional connection, intimacy, and fulfillment.
It appears that is what Tiger has found, the balance of mental toughness with emotional maturity and fulfillment. God bless him, he has done so with great…humility.
Thank goodness we didn't eject him from his profession, nor banish him from the public eye...like we do to some men now.
Tiger is a true master for our times. Not only as an athlete...but as a man.
16
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! I was THRILLED to see Tiger win. In a world where “armchair outrage” rules the day and no misstep is ever forgiven, Tiger’s redemption is a welcome respite.
3
Despite the relentless toll time takes on the human body, Tiger Woods has overcome his demons and returned to the pinnacle of golf. Only Ben Hogan had exhibited such remarkable resolve. Woods' accomplishment elevates us all. Congratulations on a well-made recovery, Tiger.
11
It would appear that the drive and motivation of a young Tiger Woods emanated from a very dark place. It also appears that he has gotten his life and priorities in order and still has the drive and talent to compete at the very highest level. That is what makes this story so very amazing.
6
I thoroughly enjoyed the redemption story of Tiger at the Masters. But, the story of 12th hole is unfinished as presented in this article. People more sage, experiences and much much better golfers than me have professed over the years, when the pin is on bottom right, you aim over the sand. Nicklaus and Watson come to mind foremost, who proposed this method; a method repeated a few years ago with painful Spieth meltdown.
How was it that only the guy doing the supposed intimidation in this article remembered the sage advice of the elders, all the young guns had forgotten?
Trust me, I also believe that there is Tiger-intimidation factor; but the intimidation comes lot more from within, than from Tiger.
8
Yeah- he buried Molinari and Finau. Honestly, they were relieved to be finished their rounds.
Koepka had birdie putts on 17 and 18 to pressure Woods and could not make them. He was 200 yards ahead of Tiger but he could feel it, too.
Amazing stuff. Have never actually been a big fan of Tiger Woods, but that was something to see yesterday.
2
Is there a connection between Tiger Woods and Donald Trump? On Sunday I found myself watching Woods claim a Masters' victory after years in the...well, woods. (I have not watched golf in years, but I was almost late to a matinee because I needed to see him sink his finally putt.) His personal struggles have appeared to waft into his physical struggles and left him, seemingly, as popular as ever. Maybe not with sponsors, but it feels he is still the people's choice. Similarly, is it possible that Donald Trump's failings as a human being have also made him a people's choice (at least with the thirty percent)? Time will tell if these two are harbingers of the new normal or just one-offs.
@Burnham Holmes No.
1
We all like to see a come back, especially by someone that is not a superhero. He broke our superhero myth of him with his own failings. This is when he became a human in our eyes. But from there he became a good person, he did the work that needed to be done to become a leader in a mental and physical game: Golf.
You cannot play golf at Tiger's level without a clear head. A clear head requires a person to deal with who they are. He overcame not only his physical ailments but also his mental ailments. He really is back in the game and it was beautiful to watch!
90
@Laticia Argenti Very aptly put - my compliments.
4
I remember sitting on my couch in the mid nineties watching Tiger win a string of Amateur championships. He was amazing to watch then, and I knew at that time I was seeing the beginning of something remarkable to come.
I admire this young man for his ability to persevere, to be humble, yet confident. To fight on. To be human.
He was raised well. He respects the game, and those that played before him. There is no one more deserving of his achievements. And it appears there is more to come.
17
I cringe at the idea that the “old Tiger" has returned. This is a new Tiger who has no need to pretend he is 20 years younger, who has no need to worship his younger self. This Tiger suffered 43 years for this win, a journey that the old Tiger would not have believed he could endure. To say that we are seeing the old Tiger is to see only a fraction of who he has become.
27
With Woods' epic victory, the "Greatest Of All Time" debate will now rage. In that regard, some numbers:
Career stroke average: Woods, 69.92, including 16 years below 70; Nicklaus, 71.80, including four years below 70. So, on average, Woods would beat Nicklaus by about eight strokes in a 72-hole event. Wins: Woods, 81, Nicklaus 73. Events: Woods, 337, Nicklaus 586. So, Woods' win percentage is 24%, exactly double that of Nicklaus' 12%. Vardon Trophies, symbolic of the lowest stroke average in a particular year: Woods, 9; Nicklaus, 0. Missed cuts: Woods, 21, including eight during the injury plagued period 2014-2017; Nicklaus, 79 (Nicklaus never suffered a major injury.). Professional majors, the reed Nicklaus fans cling to: Woods, 15; Nicklaus 18. Total majors: Golf historians consider the U.S. Amateur to be a major. True golf fans respect that. Woods has won three U.S. Amateurs, Nicklaus two. The real "major" totals are, therefore: Woods, 18; Nicklaus 20.
So, who's the G.O.A.T.? It's Woods ... by a mile.
26
@Paul Facinelli Excellent analysis — except for that nonsense about the US Amateur.
1
@Paul Facinelli, numbers, stats, what a way to ruin a great moment !
1
Like all comparisons of athletes from different eras, such analyses are interesting 19th hole discussion, but meaningless.
Playing in different eras, with different equipment, under different competitive circumstances renders such comparisons wholly speculative, and sometimes laughable.
What can be compared is the ability of winners from different eras to win against their competition. In that regard, Tiger and Jack stand apart, along with a few others that we could spend hours debating who they might be!
No matter what you think of TIger's failings as a human being, you gotta love this great redemption story. That's what made this Masters even more compelling than it always is. We all have weaknesses and have made mistakes. Some huge. But to brush himself off, and pick himself up, over the time span and under the microscope that Tiger did, is simply a great human story. Even if it is "just" golf.
106
Pure joy for us Golf and Tennis fans.The unquestioned kings of their sports, Tiger Woods and his old pal Roger Federer are back. Both sports are never the same when as they are not in the heat of battle striving for victory. Each has the ability to play shots that are not humanly possible to replicate and always it seems at a crucial moment. Also their never give up and supremely optimistic attitudes are life lessons for all of us mere mortals.
19
While not an avid "fan" of any particular sport, I have noted over the years that there are two factors that tend to bring an end to an athlete's time at the top: marriage and divorce. The first interrupts concentration and perhaps takes away some of the intensity needed to win. The second destroys those factors and, in many cases, rips away self confidence, one of the most important factors in accomplishment in any phase of life.
Two outstanding examples from the past are John McEnroe and Lance Armstrong. McEnroe's game went down significantly when he got married. Armstrong, doped or not, did not return to the form he had when he returned to cycling after his divorce (he was 5 yrs. older, too, and not the leader of his Tour de France team). Armstrong was suddenly human, crashing his bike in ways he had never done before, getting a broken collar bone, the feared break of all cyclists, one he had never experienced in his entire prior career. (Armstrong had won his last TdeF title during the divorce, if I recall correctly.)
How did Woods get his confidence back? Once you lose it and start asking the question, How can I regain it?, the very fact that the question is internally posed represents, in itself, a drag on returning to full form. Will power alone doesn't work. Most likely, it is a slow, very gradual building process based on seeing successful efforts. Most can't regain it. If Woods never again wins a major tournament, he has done something remarkable.
20
@Doug Terry The truth is that injury was the main thing keeping Woods down for the past decade. Woods marital dramas were in 2009. He came second on the PGA money winner's list in 2012 and was first in 2013. Absent injuries, he would in all likelihood have been winning consistently for the last 7 years and would probably now be way ahead of Nicklaus in major wins.
2
The stare I noticed was a bit earlier, on the 12th hole tee box. When Molinari’s tee shot went in the water, Tiger’s gaze narrowed and intensified, and one could tell he saw his opening and intended to seize it. A couple of hours later, he had.
35
The final round of the Masters was amazing. The drama, so many players in contention and of course Tiger showing he's still a champion now that he's overcome his physical issues.
One thing that was striking was watching the gallery react jubilantly, without everyone having a cell phone in their hand!
52
On CBC radio here in Toronto even the sports guy who has been dismissive of Mr Woods and critical of his personal life was in praise this morning. Good to see that Tiger is back.
19
I live on the beach in paradise. In April the temperature is infallibly in the high seventies and the skies clear. In five months this was the one and only day I sat inside my condo and watched television. In return I was transfixed by one of the finest dramas I have ever been privileged to see. Hail the return of the Prodigal Son.
48
@Chuck Burton
Great imagery here. Reminds me of June 2008 when I had booked a long holiday weekend trip with my parents to Martha's Vineyard. Yes, *that* June 2008 week. Lovely weather, tourist season hadn't kicked off in fury yet, but we spent the Thursday-Sunday and the Monday morning in our suite watching Tiger win the US Open 2008 on a fractured leg and his torn ACL.
8
The full coverage of Tiger's press conference on Golf Channel was worth watching. The contemporary Tiger Woods is much more relatable and human, though certainly heroic, than the earlier God-like infallible Woods. I'm happy for him.
64
---Watching Sunday's Master's final round was worth the guilt I experienced over spending several idle hours in the chair, with so many chores left...festering, unfinished. Wood's was his...new self, and when it came down to it, his new self was almost as dominating as his old self had been, likely against much better competition than he faced 10-15 years ago, when he was previously dominating the PGA fields. My guess would be that Jack's Major's mark doesn't stand for more than a couple years. This will surely energize Wood's, re-inspire him to take up the challenge.
30
It was good to see his stare back, but what he did on 14 was the act of a true champion. He nailed that hole landing inches from the pin with his approach under tons of pressure. That is the old Tiger, Delivering under pressure separating himself from the field at a crucial moment.
44
My feel good moment about Tiger is over. Call me "old man" if you like but golf had separated itself from other sports because this was considered unsportsmanlike until Tiger popularized this approach in golf. Different sports, different customs. Golf needed and still needs a lot of reforms but being calm and quiet and patient to allow your competitors their time in their competition with the course is part of the beauty of the sport.
13
@Kevin Our gold-everywhere he resides Head Of State has helped coarsen our national discourse, or at least he reflects a national trend.
My wish is that our whole society reforms itself to being more calm and quiet and patient.
28
The Tiger who won the previous 14 majors was under a number of different administrations. Intimidating opponents is an element of Sport, a sport in itself, but golf has not often use Rushing your Opponent as one of them.
6
@Kevin ...and major league hitters are not supposed to wait and watch at home plate for their ball to go over to fence and subsequently celebrate. Yet that's just what they do, perhaps most notably Aaron Boone, who has been handsomely rewarded. I mean, if you're going to tell the kids to get off your lawn, you have to tell ALL the kids.
2
I rarely miss Sunday of the Master's. And this is the year I missed it. Rats! I did watch when Jake Nicholas won his last Master's and at an other age than Tiger. Awesome. It seems Tiger was awesome too...Congratulations.
9
Congratulations to Woods for pushing through and playing a steely final round, hitting the shots when it most counted. The CBS coverage was so sweet and sappy I had to shut it off though and watch without the sound.
39
@Cyclist
Agreed, especially with that background music, I keep thinking I'm Rip Van Winkle and have woken up in a nursing home with elevator music playing!
2