By Guy Green
Special Guest Blogger
Guy Green, former MGA Senior Tour Division Manager. Photo by Mark Brettingen/Courtesy MGA.
When you contrast the determined self-centeredness of Tiger, (which at times approaches narcissism), with Phil, who, even with the final tee time of the day on Thursday, at 3 in the afternoon, still put on his Green Jacket and was at the first tee at 7:30 a.m. to watch Arnie, Jack and Gary add distinction to a great event, you get an appreciation for what Tiger is pissing away right now. He is literally begging people to not even care if he ever breaks Jack’s record. He, like Pete Rose did in baseball, is putting himself above the game.
There is no excuse for this stuff any more. There are only explanations. The explanations will cost him his legacy if he doesn’t change and change now. “God Dammits” into parabolic microphones one knows are there, on Good Friday no less, are just plain stupid, especially from people to whom the game has been so generous. The club kicking crap reminds me of my own awful attitude of years past. It is deplorable in a man who has four Green Jackets and a jillion dollars gleaned from the game. Even Bobby Jones realized, at a much younger age than Tiger, that his temper was ugly and would destroy his game. Jones’ discovery was pretty good for the game and for himself. Not to mention the world. Career earnings for Jones? Zero. His place in history? Unapproachable.
What is holding Tiger back is the same sort of thing being exposed about the NFL and NBA in the Saints and Magic fiascos this week. Millionaire punks and street thugs may make a good business these days, but they don’t make a good sport, or a good nation. They never will.
Mickelson wants to win the tournament every bit as much as Tiger. Phil has fought back from just as horrible play as Tiger has this week. He was just as frustrated as Tiger on Thursday and Friday. Look where they are on Sunday and how they got there. Tiger won’t be back until he gives the fans a reason to love him again. It’s that simple.
Guy Green once measured the original (USGA) slope ratings of every golf course in Minnesota (341 at the time). He is a former MGA assistant executive director, senior tour manager and contributor to Minnesota Golfer magazine. He lives in Brainerd, Minn.