How nice to see a thoughtful piece on Tiger for a change. No bashing, no hate. Thank you. I hope he's in the top 10 at The Players and gets to battle Rory, Jordan, Bubba and Billy for the championship!
7
I'm really sick of hearing people talk about how important it is "to grow the game," by which they mean getting more individuals to play golf. I play public courses and for most of the decent courses it's very difficult to get a tee time; to increase revenue many of these courses allow five-somes; and the five and a half hour round, with waiting on almost all shots. is commonplace. "Growing the game" would surely make playing a round of golf on public courses even worse, so I believe we should shrink the game so that those who choose to play can at least have a pleasant experience.
Poor Lindsey Vonn. Does she not realize she is forever tainted, that she is, and will forever be, shunned, an outcast by her people..?
What a shameless piece of puff pastry, one not worthy of the NYT! All the hired spin doctors in the world will not put the old Tiger back together again. But we'll still be subjected to his excuses, to his desire to remain relevant, to his wish to stay in the public eye. To the never ending Pity Party from this man who refuses to grow up! Please, please give it a rest. Instead, let us read more about Calvin Peete, Pete Brown, and the other brave leaders and heroes who broke the color barrier in golf.
3
This is becoming more like a soap opera, The sympathetic line about poor Tiger, seems more PR spin. He chooses to live his private life in public. It suited him to be photographed with his new partner and his children, to give an image of a happy family man. One wonders what part of Tiger's life is real and which are manufactured for massaging his image.
Tiger was one of the greatest golfers of all time. It seems that time has passed. He may still win a few PGA, events but the golfing world has new champions like Speith and McIlroy to follow. They have youth and very recent success. Tiger has a body that continues to break down.
I am a little over the continuing media infatuation with Tiger Woods.
Tiger was one of the greatest golfers of all time. It seems that time has passed. He may still win a few PGA, events but the golfing world has new champions like Speith and McIlroy to follow. They have youth and very recent success. Tiger has a body that continues to break down.
I am a little over the continuing media infatuation with Tiger Woods.
7
If Tiger wasn't within striking distance of eclipsing Jack's overall major record (a window that has all but closed, to be honest), I think he probably would have retired from competitive play by now and focused on business ventures. I see him leading a life similar to Greg Norman's at this point.
1
The Times just broke the news that Pete Brown...the first black player to WIN on the "white" tour just died.
"His death followed by two days that of Calvin Peete, the most successful black professional golfer before Tiger Woods. (Charles) Sifford died in February."
Three black golf pros who truly knew what discrimination was. I've been following the PGA since my cousin Dow Finsterwald won the PGA tournament in 1958. I used to shag balls for him on a public course (Being a girl I wasn't allowed at the Country Club.) I remember all the racist comments made about Sifford, Peete, and Brown. When Pete won the Andy Williams San Diego Open in 1970..(coming from seven strokes back!) the criticism was overwhelming. I was embarrassed by all these white racist "Fuzzy Zoelllers' who were my parents' golfing friends.
"His death followed by two days that of Calvin Peete, the most successful black professional golfer before Tiger Woods. (Charles) Sifford died in February."
Three black golf pros who truly knew what discrimination was. I've been following the PGA since my cousin Dow Finsterwald won the PGA tournament in 1958. I used to shag balls for him on a public course (Being a girl I wasn't allowed at the Country Club.) I remember all the racist comments made about Sifford, Peete, and Brown. When Pete won the Andy Williams San Diego Open in 1970..(coming from seven strokes back!) the criticism was overwhelming. I was embarrassed by all these white racist "Fuzzy Zoelllers' who were my parents' golfing friends.
6
Tiger's father was a double edged sword. He gave him the tools to win but also the Achilles heel that lead to his downfall. Earl's attempts to control every printed word written about Tiger backfired when Tiger's wife five-ironed his Escalade. Journalists blacklisted by Earl came out of the woodwork to find every last detail about what Tiger was involved in, bad and worse. And since Earl had ingrained into Tiger that he ALWAYS had to be in control, Tiger can't reconcile that we all know his secrets now. THAT is the mental part of the game that he can't get over. Contracted "relationships" with female celebrities to straighten out his image aren't going to help. The fact that he's about to turn forty and has been having injury problems doesn't help, either.
I expect him to be a frequent top ten finisher but I don't think he'll ever win another major.
I expect him to be a frequent top ten finisher but I don't think he'll ever win another major.
2
Frequent top ten finisher? He's done. The wheels have come off permanently.
2
@ Joe & Nuschler,
To your disappointments, Tiger will make a great comeback. Look at his record @ The Masters. He didn't play in almost 2 years, yet he finished -5. Name a golfer who ever come that close after 2 back surgery and multiple personal traumas?
Lest you both forgot, he is the most decorated golfer-still-of his generation.
To your disappointments, Tiger will make a great comeback. Look at his record @ The Masters. He didn't play in almost 2 years, yet he finished -5. Name a golfer who ever come that close after 2 back surgery and multiple personal traumas?
Lest you both forgot, he is the most decorated golfer-still-of his generation.
4
When reading those who find some solace in Woods' struggles, I can't help but wonder how many have ever achieved anything neart O what he did. It bring s a God deal more pleasuret O remember just how good he was than to pummel him for being human. Not long ago, golf was on a par with any sport when Tiger was in the lead or chasing the lead. I remember going thru airports on Sunday evenings and every person was glued to a TV. You don't see that now and probably never will again. Go Tiger.
1
Calvin Peete is a man and Tiger Woods is now a child.
1
Most working adults are not allowed to have "bad weeks" on the anniversaries of a parent's death. It's a good thing Tiger is not an air traffic controller.
There is such a thing as excessive mourning, and to be an emotional wreck nine years after a parent's death is an indication to me that Tiger is not a whole person.
There is such a thing as excessive mourning, and to be an emotional wreck nine years after a parent's death is an indication to me that Tiger is not a whole person.
1
Is Wood the only player on the tour whose father has died? The only one who has broken up with a girlfriend? Why is the Times giving him a forum for his whining? Does it have to do with keeping interest in him alive by suggesting that the problems with his game are the result of temporary circumstances? Face it, guys: The glory days are gone forever.
5
Woods made golf, a game I learned playing on field grass with coffee can cups behind my grandparent's barn and outbuildings starting at the age of 5, most exciting. Letting my game go fallow a decade or so Woods brought me back into the fold most happily as a spectator. I still find the prospect of Tiger being competitive interesting, but I hope he never gets to Jack.
Give me a break! We all lose parents and end "cherished relationships" without making them the excuse for everything else in our lives.
I'll take Calvin Peete, Pete Brown, Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, Lee Trevino, the list goes on, as golfers who faced severe adversity to break into an all-white sport, and did so with class that brought honor to themselves and their race. The biographies of these men (and women as Althea Gibson, and others) raised in many of us a deep sense of shame for how we and our ancestors treated anyone who was "different." And it clearly is not over. Discrimination because of race, religion, sexual preference, gender, etc. are just below the surface and touch the lives of most of us, even if we are trying hard not to let it be so.
Woods whines, complains, makes excuses, fires coach after coach, and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. His admirable athletic successes come from a natural ability honed by hard work and intense concentration. As a person, however, he is a egocentric disappointment. Why is it that he never had time to share his love for golf with those who proceeded him in opening our eyes to our own prejudices?
Please find an uplifting story about a prominent athletic figure who is doing good in the world that will cause us to smile.
I'll take Calvin Peete, Pete Brown, Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, Lee Trevino, the list goes on, as golfers who faced severe adversity to break into an all-white sport, and did so with class that brought honor to themselves and their race. The biographies of these men (and women as Althea Gibson, and others) raised in many of us a deep sense of shame for how we and our ancestors treated anyone who was "different." And it clearly is not over. Discrimination because of race, religion, sexual preference, gender, etc. are just below the surface and touch the lives of most of us, even if we are trying hard not to let it be so.
Woods whines, complains, makes excuses, fires coach after coach, and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. His admirable athletic successes come from a natural ability honed by hard work and intense concentration. As a person, however, he is a egocentric disappointment. Why is it that he never had time to share his love for golf with those who proceeded him in opening our eyes to our own prejudices?
Please find an uplifting story about a prominent athletic figure who is doing good in the world that will cause us to smile.
4
“I didn’t have those struggles when I was trying to get out on tour,” Woods said, “but I certainly can relate to when I was a kid and the things that I had to endure just to try and play golf, and I wasn’t allowed to play at certain places. That part I can understand; I can relate to.”
Relate? Tiger grew up an army brat who played the BEST courses in the world. (Military courses are A plus!) His father Lt. Col Eldrick Woods had ELEVEN children. He ignored them all to travel the world with Tiger.
Tiger refuses to even self-identify as black. He refers to his mixed heritage as Cablinasian or Caublindian.” His mom is Thai, dad has Native American ancestry.
Now I know what discrimination is. I'm a 66 y/o woman. At my parent's country club my three brothers could play golf and tennis but my twin sister and I weren't even allowed on the course or in the club house until age 21! I had to pack my sticks to a public course to play. There are STILL courses today that don't allow women--or are "allowed" just for a week at Christmas to buy their husbands gifts from the pro shop.
The Masters? They finally allowed two female members and one is Condie Rice.
Get over yourself Tiger. We all lost people dear to us and I have NEVER said "Oh I just couldn't take care of gunshot wounds today in the ER! It's the fifth anniversary of my military husband committing suicide. Boo-hoo!"
Tiger has NEVER had to relate to the real world...He's a brat.
Relate? Tiger grew up an army brat who played the BEST courses in the world. (Military courses are A plus!) His father Lt. Col Eldrick Woods had ELEVEN children. He ignored them all to travel the world with Tiger.
Tiger refuses to even self-identify as black. He refers to his mixed heritage as Cablinasian or Caublindian.” His mom is Thai, dad has Native American ancestry.
Now I know what discrimination is. I'm a 66 y/o woman. At my parent's country club my three brothers could play golf and tennis but my twin sister and I weren't even allowed on the course or in the club house until age 21! I had to pack my sticks to a public course to play. There are STILL courses today that don't allow women--or are "allowed" just for a week at Christmas to buy their husbands gifts from the pro shop.
The Masters? They finally allowed two female members and one is Condie Rice.
Get over yourself Tiger. We all lost people dear to us and I have NEVER said "Oh I just couldn't take care of gunshot wounds today in the ER! It's the fifth anniversary of my military husband committing suicide. Boo-hoo!"
Tiger has NEVER had to relate to the real world...He's a brat.
6
While on the subject of Tiger's current challenges and his late dad, I'm reminded that while Earl may have raised an amazing golfer, he did not raise the best of persons. Someday someone may go beyond the lore of Tiger climbing out of his high chair to swing like dad and do a deep dive on who Earl really was and what his upbringing of Tiger created. While Earl certainly built a champion, I think the cost was high for his son.
2
Although Tiger didn't cheat at golf by using steroids, as ARod did in baseball (or did he?), the similarities of these two disgraced stars at this stage of their careers are remarkable. Both trying to defy the odds and break all-time records. Both living soap opera love lives. And probably most interesting, both trying to gain public sympathy by softening their images by rewriting their narratives. Sorry. Not buying either of these phonies.
2
Tiger Wood, please retire!
Earl Woods was one of my instructors at the ROTC program of the City College of New York. He made a positive impression on me and the other cadets in the program and it is very understandable the effect of his loss is on his son.
1
Tough to sleep when you've got two or three ladies of the night in your boudoir. People never change. Tiger has tried many different strokes though.
2
It's truly disheartening to see all negative comments about Tiger out there.
For God's sake, who's perfect among us?
Do I smell spite and jealousy about a black guy with so much fortune and fame?
Yes I do..and it's regrettable...to say the least.
For God's sake, who's perfect among us?
Do I smell spite and jealousy about a black guy with so much fortune and fame?
Yes I do..and it's regrettable...to say the least.
6
I don't sleep well either, so I guess all of Tiger's millions can't help. And how about Michael Jackson, he couldn't sleep well either.
Thanks for writing about Pete Brown, the first African-American to win a PGA Tour event, and Calvin Peete.
Please write more about them and less about Tiger Wood's mood shifts.
Please write more about them and less about Tiger Wood's mood shifts.
16
It would be nice to hear about golfers like Calvin Peete and Pete Brown on occasion.
2
"That is a lot of misery for someone who once went a record 142 starts without missing a cut..."
Why does this phony statistic STILL have legs? A good number of those starts didn't HAVE cuts. How can you be at risk of missing a cut that doesn't even EXIST??
If you want to be statistically-literate, tell us how many consecutive cuts he actually MADE. Y'know, in tournaments that HAD a cut. Y'know, in tournaments in which some of the players actually cleaned out their lockers after Friday's rounds. The number is something less than 142.
This is not to diminish his ability, it's to try to deep-six that g/d phony "statistic."
Why does this phony statistic STILL have legs? A good number of those starts didn't HAVE cuts. How can you be at risk of missing a cut that doesn't even EXIST??
If you want to be statistically-literate, tell us how many consecutive cuts he actually MADE. Y'know, in tournaments that HAD a cut. Y'know, in tournaments in which some of the players actually cleaned out their lockers after Friday's rounds. The number is something less than 142.
This is not to diminish his ability, it's to try to deep-six that g/d phony "statistic."
1
that's a huge effort on your part considering it's a very minor (for Tiger) record to begin with.
2
What a fall from grace for this champion. Tiger was on course to break all major records but his dark side and perhaps his arrogance caught up with him. There is no escaping bad behavior. Sooner or later it will lay you low. Of course this could all be avoided with discipline and good advice. Where was Earl during this period?
This guy did it to himself. He should have looked up to his former fan Roger Federer on how to conduct oneself with class on the global sports stage.
This guy did it to himself. He should have looked up to his former fan Roger Federer on how to conduct oneself with class on the global sports stage.
7
He apologized in a big big way, he didn't have to, but he did. but it just was not and can never be enough for some people, people like Victor that will keep kicking the man and telling us what a loser he is.
4
The loss of a parent is one of the most devastating traumas to the mind, and it is certain that Tiger's father's death is hitting him particularly hard. Focusing on how things were "back in the day" may be unavoidable, but it isn't helping him get back on track. The problem is, the older we get, the more we miss our parents, and it's no different for Woods. Combine that with all of those newcomer superstars snapping-up major trophies, health issues and advancing age, and one can easily sense the challenge Tiger faces. I can only wish him well.
5
Yep, all of us lose our fathers unless we die first.
2
Mr. Peete and Mr. Brown were indeed pioneers and trailblazers for people of color getting onto the pro circuit. It is truly a pity that Tiger Woods did not make time to get together with either of them--especially Calvin Peete, a winner of the Tour Championship. Surely, Woods must have had opportunities to make that effort. Who knows how a friendship with Mr. Peete might have affected Woods' future and unfortunate behavior?
9
I don't know the last time when Tiger Woods really enjoyed and had fun play playing his game. The pressure on a person to continually excel while in the public eye, no matter how exceptional, takes its toll. Tiger knows the technicalities of the game -- grip, stroke and all the rest. For several years when I was going through personal difficulties and PTSD, Tiger's brilliance and determination, his ability to come back when down, lifted my spirits and inspired me to keep going. But my observations of Tiger's psychological "falling apart" on the course, his facial and physical signals, point to not a need for more practice but a need to approach his game-damaging demons by taking a different path, one that changes his game by changing his emotional swings. Sometimes "trying harder" is counterproductive. Tiger might breathe deeply and ease up when the going gets tough. Apart from tournaments, he might give personal lessons to children and to disabled veterans and others, since helping others is a fine way to help ourselves. As Tiger Woods faces his mid-life challenges, the words of the old pop song, "Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think," might be a place to begin -- all over again.
Doug Giebel
Big Sandy, Montana
dougcatz(at)itstriangle.om
Doug Giebel
Big Sandy, Montana
dougcatz(at)itstriangle.om
8
Tiger needs to retire and use his money for his own enjoyment and to help others.
Tiger Woods has become a bore.
11
And yet you can't look away.
1
this is stupid the man is going thru hard times but we have to know all about it? Why? How is this about sports? One of golf's two or three greatest players is slowing down at 40 and we want to see him struggle or see that he is human? Find some other human interest piece to write about. Slow time for reporting
7
I wonder why sleepless nights now, considering he likely did not lose any sleep when he cheated on his wife and children, lost millions in alimony, child support and lost endorsements. Is it because he's on the back nine of his competitiveness?
6
Does Phil Mickelson have a living father? Rory McIlroy? Do we even care? Do we even care about Earl Woods, either? I don't think so. Earl Woods has long since been relegated to being an excuse for Tiger not to win golf tournaments.
Looking forward to your feature on Arnold Palmer's father, whom I would guess is no longer with us. Perhaps you could tell us for sure?
Looking forward to your feature on Arnold Palmer's father, whom I would guess is no longer with us. Perhaps you could tell us for sure?
7
The health struggles of MIckelson's wife and (I believe) mother were well documented over the past few years, and definitely a part of "the narrative" when he won major championships. There are numerous examples of the press covering the impact of personal tragedy on the performance of sports stars (think Brett Favre after his father passed, or Michael Jordan when his father was killed for obvious examples)
14
Bravo Eric, for a very human and illustrative response. Thanks! To add to your list...in response to Here...yes Rory has a father too who had wagered a few pounds on his kid's success long time ago and collected.
1
I can give you just one example out of hundreds. Mr. Class Tom Watson had a caddy Bruce Edwards who died of ALS at age 49 back in 2004.
Tom paid for all of his medical expenses and home care. He visited with him every chance he got. Every year for the last ten years at Augusta, Watson holds a tribute to the guy who looped for him.
But Tom Watson doesn't make headlines with such stories.
When has Tiger EVER done something for someone else? Now that his skills are eroding he doesn't have a lot of friends on the tour. David Brooks wrote a book on "character." Tiger doesn't have it. Period.
Tom paid for all of his medical expenses and home care. He visited with him every chance he got. Every year for the last ten years at Augusta, Watson holds a tribute to the guy who looped for him.
But Tom Watson doesn't make headlines with such stories.
When has Tiger EVER done something for someone else? Now that his skills are eroding he doesn't have a lot of friends on the tour. David Brooks wrote a book on "character." Tiger doesn't have it. Period.
3
excuse me eldrick but the entire tour is made up of pros who travel every week and miss their better halves with their "hectic schedules"
in fact, since you rarely play more than once a month, you're one of the few pros who can be home with his wife/girlfriend
this has to be one of the lamest excuses on record - perhaps if you told the truth more often without the surly attitude, people would respect you
in fact, since you rarely play more than once a month, you're one of the few pros who can be home with his wife/girlfriend
this has to be one of the lamest excuses on record - perhaps if you told the truth more often without the surly attitude, people would respect you
4
Lindsay Vonn had just as crazy a schedule as he did. That is the distinguishing factor.
Tiger can hold his head high; he'd be considered a legend by me even if he walked away from the game today. From what he's described, it sounds like his powerful and complex relationship with his dad is both the primary reason he's a legend, and also maybe a part of the puzzle of his dysfunction and stagnation. I have nothing but compassion for his losses, but professionally speaking, I hope he can shake off whatever demons that I can only imagine might come along with having such a powerful father figure/coach and move on to something different, a new chapter. I would love to see him get out of his rut and contend seriously once again. He's such a joy to watch when he's at or near his best.
6
Excellent article, Ms. Crouse. In large part because of his own focus, it's been easy to overlook the human side of Tiger Woods for much of his career. While he has opened up more in recent times as his mortality as a player became more exposed, there remains still a strong reserved streak, instilled in him by his father. And that's fine. Tiger's simply never going to be as gregarious as some golfers, even after he's done winning majors. I think he is pointing toward July across the pond, at his favorite track in the world, as his best chance to win a major in some time. Chambers Bay is a wild card; it's hard to know who will do well there, but St. Andrews suits Woods' game like no other course. It's realistic for him and others to expect #15 to come there. And if so, the chase to #18/#19 would officially be on again.
1
He is still Tiger..He will always be Tiger..And someday he will pass away as Tiger..We , as fans, know just what he did to the game of golf. Probably the most boring sport to watch, Tiger made you look forward to the weekends of sitting and watching. Late Sundays were usually set for watching a Tiger comeback or a total dismantling of the field, golf was more then exciting. He was so high on the pedestal that any sub par game at all would be a fall, and a hard fall it's been. All the Cory's and Jordan's in the world could never replace the excitement Tiger brought to the game. Even now, in his
waning years, we try to calculate how Tiger might find a way to get the victory on any given Sunday but when we look up at the scoreboard his name is no where to be found. It's sad to see any hero of any game age and fall from grace. Baseball had Willy Mays , who continued to play into his aging years and at times was embarrassing to watch some of his final games, Micky Mantle the most powerful bat to ever grace the field could barely run to first base at the end. Every sport has it's own hero's collapse but we want them to continue for that one last shot, that one last heroic comeback, that one last fist pump, because we all fear our own mortality, which also is looming on the horizon.
waning years, we try to calculate how Tiger might find a way to get the victory on any given Sunday but when we look up at the scoreboard his name is no where to be found. It's sad to see any hero of any game age and fall from grace. Baseball had Willy Mays , who continued to play into his aging years and at times was embarrassing to watch some of his final games, Micky Mantle the most powerful bat to ever grace the field could barely run to first base at the end. Every sport has it's own hero's collapse but we want them to continue for that one last shot, that one last heroic comeback, that one last fist pump, because we all fear our own mortality, which also is looming on the horizon.
4
He looks old in that photo.