Posted on 07/18/2004 12:55:56 PM PDT by numberonepal
I don't sweep. I empty the trash. Nyah.
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
The guy has won 8 majors, and has still won over 20% of the majors he has played in. Nicklaus and Palmer both say he is better than the 2 of them combined.
I have to agree with you.
Of course Tiger is arrogant--every great golfer is. You can't be great unless you think you are great.
But he was well brought up, and taught not to boast, so he has a polite veneer that he shows to the public.
I really think that his problem is that he plays an arrogant schedule, built around the four majors. If he doesn't contend in the majors, his year is shot. He might do better just to play a bunch of regular tournaments and try to get competitive again.
LOL! Oh yes I can, here's an article talking about Janet Reno in her little red truck crossing the country on the back roads. No Tiger mentioned! ;-)
Seriously, Tiger is always "there", but he can't finish these days. He's had alot of top 10 finishes. I think he still holds it against that beautiful fiancee (Elin Nordegren) for nearly killing him with the food poisoning dinner she prepared for him! ;-)
Have you seen the photos of her on the internet? God, no wonder he's tired.
Nordegren and golfer Tiger Woods became engaged to be married in November of 2003. Nordegren first became a public figure in 2002 when she began dating Woods, one of the world's most famous sports figures. A blonde, blue-eyed Swede and part-time model, Nordegren was working as a nanny for Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik when she met Woods. Reportedly Parnevik introduced the two at the 2001 British Open.
I concur. He is still settling into a swing that will last him a life time. I still see him breaking all of Nicklaus' records and predict a win at the PGA Championship, if he can beat Lefty. Now that would be a cool Sunday pairing.
Word to that. She's certainly been a distraction it seems. That's not much of a stretch.
Phil the Thrill is at the absolute top of his game right now -- amazing to finish in the Top Three in three straight majors -- and Els is right there. If Tiger takes it up half a notch for the PGA, it could be a memorable one -- like a Palmer-Nicklaus-Player dogfight in the mid-60s. And I like a lot of what Goosen has been doing too, although he bungled it a bit on the back nine today.
I used to think it was a cinch that Tiger would win as many majors as Jack and Arnie combined -- that won't happen. Catching Nicklaus is still doable, but we probably shouldn't be thinking about it until Tiger takes another major. Brings home just how great Nicklaus really was (plus lots of seconds in majors, too.)
Tiger eventually lived up to the hype and then some. Given his amateur record, the hype wasn't all that far off either. His professional record thus far is incredible and second to none.
Thanks ping! OU All American wins British Open -- that is fantastic.
Here's a Saturday story on him from one of his local papers:
Local golfers buzzing after Hamilton moves up in British Open.
By MATT LEVINS
mlevins@thehawkeye.com
OQUAWKA, Ill. — The legend of Todd Hamilton just continues to grow in leaps and bounds in southeast Iowa and west–central Illinois.
Hamilton is making quite a name for himself in the golf world this week, taking a one–shot lead into today's final round of the 133rd British Open golf championship at Royal Troon Golf Club 'n Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Oquawka, Ill., native also is creating a whirlwind in his old stomping grounds.
As Hamilton charged into the lead Saturday morning with his second consecutive round of 4–under–par 67, more than 100 people gathered in the clubhouse at Hend–Co Hills Golf and Country Club in Biggsville, Ill. Hend–Co Hills is where Hamilton learned to play the game, where he began to build his career, where he played high school golf for Union High School.
The clubhouse at Hend–Co Hills was all abuzz with talk of Hamilton Saturday.
"This place is really buzzing," Hend–Co Hills manager Bryan Ray Hubbard said. "Everybody is just ecstatic. It's been unbelievable. We are trying to figure out what to do (today) to set things off. We are trying to get everybody geared up for (today)."
Hend–Co Hills was hosting a tournament Saturday morning. But the actual tournament took a back seat to news of Hamilton as he charged up the leaderboard.
"Guys would play two or three holes and come in to see how Todd was doing. Then they would go back out and play two or three more holes and come back in to check on Todd again," Hubbard said. "We went out and put a big board outside the clubhouse and posted his score after every hole. It was nice to see (Hamilton) get some air time."
Hubbard said the club's members even stopped in to watch while they waited for the tournament to end.
"Everybody's coming in wondering how he's doing and where he plays next," Hubbard said. "It's just been a real buzz around here. And the best thing is that (Hamilton) is just plain a nice guy. We are really excited. We wish him well and we are looking forward to seeing how he does (today)."
Meanwhile, 10 miles to the northwest in Hamilton's former hometown of Oquawka, Hamilton's father, Kent, gathered with several friends in his home to watch Todd's third round. While they swilled a few beers and grilled hamburgers, they relished Hamilton's charge into the lead.
"We turned on the TV and saw a little bit of him early. Then he got into the lead and bingo! — we started seeing more of him," said Kent Hamilton, who owns and operates Hamilton's Super Market in Oquawka. "He had a perfect round. He used a lot of irons off the tee and his hybrid half–wood. He has a game plan and it's worked for him."
Kent Hamilton had just gotten off the phone with Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune, who had remembered Todd Hamilton from his playing days at Union High School.
Kent Hamilton is looking forward to another big day today. And with any luck, hopefully he will be watching his son win his first major championship.
"This is so exciting for him," Kent said. "I just hope he can continue it (today). It's just a neat thing."
ABC Sports will have a crew broadcasting from Hend–Co Hills today.
Hamilton's success reverberated clear to Burlington. KBUR sports director Don Brandt did a live interview on BBC radio with John Inveridale and plans a similar simulcast today.
When Hamilton's success was announced at the Burlington Bee's game Saturday, the crowd of about 2,200 gave a loud ovation.
Even members of Burlington Golf Club gathered around the television to watch Hamilton. Saturday was the first round of the BGC Championship, but that took a back seat to Hamilton's latest exploits.
"Everybody making the turn during the tournament came in and checked the TV to see how he's doing," BGC professional Joe Butler said. "The second round of our tournament is (Sunday), and I'm hoping we don't get any withdrawals from people wanting to watch him.
"Everybody's excited. We're hoping he can hold on, since the best players in the world are right there with him. It's pretty neat."
And the legend of Todd Hamilton continues to grow.
"Brings home just how great Nicklaus really was (plus lots of seconds in majors, too.)"
Jack accomplished his record before today's souped up 4 piece ball, 60 degree wedges, and hot drivers. He also had to beat some great, underrated golfers to do it. I once heard Lee Trivino say that Jack, in his prime, would have averaged 330+ yards off the tee if he had the technology Tiger uses today.
Many years ago I remember, watching Jack hit a 2 iron out of heavy rough at Firestone from 220 yards away to ten feet. Never seen that shot equaled.
Fades into obscurity?
If he quits tomorrow he is among the greatest golfers of all time. You really haven't a clue.
Great golf memory -- love to hear those kinds of stories. You're right, there was a crowded field of fine golfers when The Bear was first making his mark -- not just Arnie and Gary and Super Mex -- Billy Casper (very under-rated top tier golfer IMO), Ken Venturi, Champagne Tony Lema, Julius Boros, the effervescent Doug Sanders, Roberto diVicenzo, Gene Littler and many more. And then a few years later in Jack's prime came Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller and so on. Hard to believe that when Nicklaus first hit the scene, Ben Hogan was still on the tour and Sam Snead was still WINNING tournaments in his 50s. A great book on this era, if you haven't read it, is by Curt Sampson -- I think the title is "Eternal Summer" -- about golf in 1960. Sampson is an excellent golf writer -- also wrote fine books on Ben Hogan and The Masters.
No disputing what you said about the equipment, although of course it has continually improved throughout the history of golf. Again, appreciate your story.
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