Epiphany: This Tiger Woods Fellow is Clutch
Golf June 16th. 2008, 9:00am
The ethereal swing, the effervescent fist pump, the toothy and cocksure grin; that Tiger Woods guy is something else. For Rocco Mediate’s exceptional effort at the US Open – golf needs more of this chatty chap, no? – he gets to play 1 on 1 against the G.O.A.T. today beginning at 12. If you couldn’t call in sick for work today, fear not – Cousins of Ron Mexico will live-blog the 18 holes starting around noon. We can say with some authority that Tiger’s stats – historical dominance at Torrey Pines, 10-1 all-time in playoffs, and two playoff victories in majors – augur victory.
Also, we could use some golf club advice from experts in the field – we’re picking up some clubs in the coming weeks and taking up the sport again.
Photos: Icon Sports Media
87 Responses to “Epiphany: This Tiger Woods Fellow is Clutch”
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:02 am
So that’s where the Sprite money is going. Expect the Roundup to be posted around 11:30 from now on.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Last round of golf played: 1993, I think. Maybe one in college. Did hit the range about three years ago.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
I’d pick up a set of Adams with the hybrids.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Can someone explain to me why they’re playing an 18-hole playoff? I thought a playoff was, like, one hole?
June 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
No bocce ball or cornhole TBL?
I think a little bit of me died inside when Tiger made that putt…my mood is always the inverse of Stevie Williams’
June 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
http://www.adamsgolf.com/idea_a3_irons.htm
June 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
If you’re talking irons, find yourself a decent set of oversize/mid-size cavity backs – they’re very forgiving and relatively easy to hit. Pick out a few that suit your eye and test hit them in the pro shop.
Also, get yourself measured for height/hand size etc. Spending the extra $50-$75 to get the irons built to the right length, proper grip sizes, etc. is well worth it. Since you haven’t played in a while, it probably isn’t worth getting lie angle, etc. checked since your swing will likely be “evolving”.
As for woods – go to the used bin and find a set of used Pings, Taylor Made, Nike or King Cobras. Save yourself a lot of cash by buying last year’s model that someone threw out. They’re all relatively similar.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:10 am
His sheer dominance is so dominating that it just dominated me to sleep on Sunday. It was dominating.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Nike Slingshots best iron for beginners I have ever seen.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Does it bother anyone else that Steve Williams comes over to join in the celebrations? I’m OK with a high five after Tiger’s done fist pumping, but it’s like they have a choreographed routine at this point.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:12 am
there’s a ton of used stuff everywhere. you can get some great clubs for dirt cheap just because rich guys like toys and trade their crap in every year.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I got to watch Nicklaus in an 18 hole playoff for the Senior Open at Oakland Hills about 15 years ago. Funny, because my Dad was saying “thats the greatest ever son.” Now of course my son doesn’t comprehend that kind of stuff at this point, but I said it anyway in regards to Tiger because this playoff reminded me of that moment.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Those Adams look sweet … but expensive. Do most people buy clubs online, or at actual stores? I would assume they were much cheaper online (because everything is), right?
June 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Ebay is great for used drivers/woods. My boss got a set (driver, 3 and 5 woods) of last year’s King Cobras for about $150.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Roethlishotdog…it doesnt bother me at all, caddies need love too.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Knock off hybrid package, most forgiving clubs ever.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I have never claimed to be Mr.Golf…it would be an awful name to have anyway..but I no longer ever in my life want to here “Tiger and Phil”..unless it is is followed by something they are actually doing together or “are both golfers” For everyone trying to find a person who is close to Tiger give it up..it’s Tiger and everyone else…Phil Mickleson is a choker..he is Greg Norman with a few majors..he is Lee Travino…nothing more..he is nowhere near Tiger’s class…Tiger is playing with legends now…Phil Mickletits no longer should garner any sort of attention or comparison to Tiger…it’s not fair to Tiger…Phil maybe the number 2 guy but he certainly closer to 3 than to 1…thank you
June 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Isn’t Steve Williams the highest earning “athlete” in New Zealand?
June 16th, 2008 at 9:19 am
That’s all I needed today. Thank you RWH. Go buy yourself a drink for that one, on me and my virtual cash.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Roman…i hear that, but at the same time, i feel bad for Phil. he was the original talent who was supposed to break jack’s records and then tiger comes along and ruins it.
and phil is WAY WAY WAY better than Norman or Trevino, he’s just had the bad luck of all this coming during the Tiger era. Els, Vijay and Phil would all have more than 3 majors apiece if Tiger wasn’t Tiger.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:21 am
clown…yes he is. fuckin’ kiwis need a race car driver or something, a caddie being the highest paid athlete is just sad.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:22 am
@clown – You’re thinking of the sprinter who runs to the sweets shop for Peter Jackson.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Peter Jackson has lost hella weight, you anti-fatist bastard!
/standing up for all fatasses
June 16th, 2008 at 9:25 am
He had the Al Roker surgery?
June 16th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Fo’ Shizzle.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:31 am
spencer..I would be cool with that rational if Phil was in it a bunch of Championship SUndays..he always falls off…Friday or Saturday..is he a good golfer..yes…but it is not like he is oging head to head with Tiger all the time…the guy fades everytime he is near the guy…that is not greatness
June 16th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Norman does have a major, don’t forget. And I wouldn’t knock Trevino. He has 6 majors, won the US, British and PGA twice each, including a then epic duel with Nicklaus at the US Open. To compare Mickelson to him is an insult to Trevino.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:37 am
2-person golf matches can become pretty boring tv viewing, particularly during a blowout. I just hope it’s still interesting at the turn, but I doubt it.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:40 am
@Jimmy. I agree with you on the 2-person golf rounds, but a few things to remember about this one. Believe it or not, Rocco did shoot the better round yesterday, contrary to what it may seem like on espn. And also, I don’t know the scores right off the top of my head, but Rocco has been pretty good on the opening 4 or 5 holes, Tiger hasn’t. I think those first 4 or 5 holes are going to determine how the entire playoff goes.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Roman…i think you’re overlooking Phil’s career finishes in majors. 26 top-10 finishes in majors is hardly something to sneeze at.
i think it’s the other way around. Trevino played in an era where there were a handful of golfers capable of winning a tournament (tho they were great). today’s fields are far deeper. and trevino would be lucky to have even a sliver or Mickeltits’ talent.
Phil is an all-time great who just happened to come around at the worst possible time. he’s going to go down as Norman 2.0, which blows because Norman was a punk bitch.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I believe Norman won 2 British Opens. So, he does have a major.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:43 am
TBL: The word you were looking for is augur, not auger. One’s a verb relating to prediction; the other is “any of various tools or devices having a helical shaft or member that are used for boring holes (as in wood, soil, or ice) or moving loose material (as snow),” via Merriam-Webster Online.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Norman has 2 majors, but 4 of the all-time worst choke jobs in major championship history. he was the most talented golfer of his era, but cared more about real estate and clothing lines than he did golf. he was a dick to everyone he met, and watching him choke at every opportunity was just fantastic. couldnt have happened to a better guy.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:47 am
And Norman also bagged Chris Evert, in addition to pulling many Chuck Norrises.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Keep an eye on this site TBL, you can find good deals. I’ve seen Callaways, Slingshots, TaylorMade, etc
http://www.1daysports.com/mulligan.php
The mulligan deal (which is the previous days deal) for last Friday were the Nike Slingshots. You could still get these if you wanted, but only till the end of the day.
Here is another deal of the day golf site: http://www.dealadaygolf.com/
June 16th, 2008 at 9:48 am
ugh, thanks for the SP correx Rock
June 16th, 2008 at 9:51 am
one more idea for golf clubs…
http://www.callawaygolfoutlet.com
doesn’t need much of an explanation, but my mother bought a few clubs from there and they have a ton of shit for cheap.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Thanks for writing SAT prep words (epiphany, the somewhat misused ethereal and effervescent, cocksure, augur) into this post. Enough English/journalism majors read the site that you’ll get help.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:05 am
As good as Mickelson is–and, he is good–it’s not as though he’d be cleaning up if Tiger were not around. For that matter, no one player would benefit if there weren’t a dominant player such as Tiger, as there really is not a clear cut #2.
Nothing against Tiger, but I’ll be rooting for Rocco today. Mediate is a western PA native who, while having had a solid PGA career, has had a number of injuries holding him back for years.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:08 am
We have found golf clubs(Cleveland 3 wood, for instance) cheap in bins at golf outlet stores. I would love a set of hybrids, because I don’t use any irons except my PW and occasionally my 7iron when I need to. My irons just sit in the bag. I can’t hit them, and I do perfectly fine with wood(let the jokes begin)..
June 16th, 2008 at 10:15 am
other than mickeltits, who has a legit claim to #2? ernie and veej are way too old and not where they were. adam scott and justin rose suck if it’s not some rinky-dink tourney like the Shell Houston Open. sergio MIGHT be the only one who has anything to say, but he doesnt have enough success on US soil to go there.
mickeltits is as much no. 2 as tiger is no. 1. he’s stuick in the middle, and i totally believe that if tiger wasn’t around, Phil would have at least 8 majors by now. of course there’s no way to prove that, but that’s my opinion.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Must be the boobs getting in the way
/Ben Wright
June 16th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Effervescent fist pump? Or terrorist fist jab?
June 16th, 2008 at 10:20 am
@spencer, my villegas prediction wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be.
I’m not sure who I’m rooting for today, I hope its close.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:26 am
pwned…no, villegas played pretty solidly. tho, his game was totally summed up on the 14th hole; drive the green, then leave the eagle putt 5 feet short.
he can drive the ball hella-good, but everything else is kinda weak. but he’s young so he could rock it in a few years. i just hate seeing his face plastered around when he’s, frankly, not taht great rigth now.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I like Mickelson, but the difference between he and Tiger is vast. Tiger surely has a “gift”, but his greatness is in no small part owed to his manic practice and conditioning. I’ve never gotten the impression that Mickelson’s commitment to the game is all that great. Hence, he’ll never be a true rival to Tiger (in the Arnie/Jack sense).
Would Phil really have 8 majors but for Tiger’s existence? I’m guessing he’d have a few, but the guy tends to fade on Sunday. That may have something to do with his lack of conditioning. Or, possibly, his lack of “killer instinct” (seems odd to use this description when speaking of golf). How often does Tiger lose on Sunday? This has happened…once, right? Mickelson, for all of his talent, almost seems just happy to be there and not so concerned about closing the deal.
That’s just my opinion…I could be wrong.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:27 am
How freaking stubid is ESPN/NBC for not putting this playoff on at 4pm Eastern. Prime time golf with no competition except the ping of college world series.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Hey TBL, I am looking to get rid of a beginner golf club set, and I’ll throw in the bag, for only $100. Not a name brand, but they served me well for a while.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:32 am
@TBL
Check out &
These sites will give you a good idea what used clubs go for on the net.
I agree with what was said earlier, why pay full price for this year’s models, when last year’s are just as good and cheaper.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:33 am
412…yea, i agree with all of what you said, and it’s totally spot on.
but at the same time, his natural talent is so insane, i can’t describe it. i was at the bridgestone invitational in akron, and phil was on the chipping green taking full swings, flopping the ball 20 feet in the air, the ball spinning back past where it landed and resting a couple inches away from the hole. it was absolutely nuts. he can do anything with a golf club, and from a pure talent position, i HONESTLY believe that phil is a much more talented golfer than tiger.
it’s the mental stuff that seperates them, and unfortunately for the golf world, tiger just won’t let up.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Had to feel bad for Rocco yesterday after Tiger hit that putt. They had the camera on him saying “I knew he was gonna hit the putt”, and he sounded resigned to his fate of getting second.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:40 am
My buddy called me Thursday and said he had free weekend Open tickets so I flew out Friday night.
I had seen Tiger live before but this weekend was indescribable. If you are a real golf fan you have to go to a major and see Tiger play while he is in his prime.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Doesn’t tiger kind of play the courses that fit his game though?
I mean if he plays in a tourney then it is something, if not, it is nothing, so wouldn’t it be wise to have tourneys at courses that fit Tigers game (longer) if you want viewers? I think it is weird that nobdy ever mentions that. Toger can in many ways pick and choose when and where he wants to play. I realize majors are majors and Tiger will play those no matter where they are, but as for the others he can basically play his favorite courses and not play the others… which is weird.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I think Rocco might win, he has held up under the pressure of the last 2 days and Tiger’s knee is killing him. I think Tiger should play the round safe like Rocco plays, because I know he can out-putt him but I don’t know if Tiger can play that way.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Regarding clubs TBL, I assemble Golfsmith brand clubs as a hobby. Good quality and fairly cheap. Plus it gives me the added pleasure of telling golfers who own $1,500 sets that I just beat them with clubs I made in my garage.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:44 am
That’s interesting. I would love to see what Mickelson would be capable of if he really committed himself.
And, I might be incorrect in my assessment, but I just get the impression that, while Phil is an immensely talented golfer, he just doesn’t “care” nearly as much as Tiger about being great.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Go Rocco.
I respect Tiger and love to watch him play, but I just have to root for Rocco today. The world loves to root for the incredible underdog.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Crap…Monday morning and not enough coffee…
&
June 16th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Phil’s biggest problem is between his ears. He’s playing the longest US Open course in history and he leaves his driver at home? Fucking stupid.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:48 am
yea, it’s kind of obnoxious, but when you’re tiger, you can do what you want. he won’t be able to avoid westchester this year because of the new FedEx Cup scoring changes, and he hates that course, so eat that Tiger. and it was a little convinient that he elected to have surgery before The Players when it’s well documented that he hates TPC Sawgrass, tho he did miss the Memorial at Muirfield which he loves.
eh, the top guys aren’t as batshit crazy as Vijay (who must play at least 30 tourneys per year, crazy for a 45 year old) so they’ll just go to the ones they like.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Phil used to care about being considered one of the greats. when he turned pro, he was the guy who was supposed to break Jack’s records, he won a big tourney as a 20-year old amateur, he did shit in college that PGA pros had never seen before. then it became obvious when tiger hit the scene that there was a new force, and it was around the time Phil was starting his family. he was less interested in greatness in the public eye, but it was a pretty convinient “out” to say you care about family more than winning when there’s a guy who’s so hard to beat.
if phil was totally locked in, i truly believe there isn’t a golfer in the world who could touch him, but he’s alwyas done things his way, and he’ll have his legacy cemeted as 2nd fiddle.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:53 am
course was playing fast and firm, he still averaged 285 yards off the tee, a yard above the field average. his “3-wood” was bent strong to 11.5 degrees and he figred having more options around the greens would be better for scoring than having a driver…it wasn’t that big of a mistake. he lost it because he had no spin control and didn’t have his irons’ distance control at all.
(i sound like a phil apologist…i will stop, seeing as he fucking choked hardcore).
June 16th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Phil also got fucking robbed in ‘99 at Pinehurst when Payne Stewart made that long bomb on 18 to win. That’s the tournament when Phil’s wife was about to have their first kid. He wore a beeper the whole time and would have walked off the course regardless of the situation if she went into labor. Extra sad considering Payne Stewart died less than a year later.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
dont forget Phil storming back during the ‘02 US Open at Bethpage only to have his momentum destroyed by a weather delay.
the crowd singing happy birthday to him on the first tee is a goose-bumps moment. plus, id rather watch an interview with phil anyday over robot-tiger.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Unless you’re Rocco Mediate, 285 off the tee doesn’t get it done. Phil would have been better off with the driver instead of swinging his nuts off with the 3 wood trying to squeeze extra distance out of it. Tiger was out driving him by 50 yards or more. Pretty hard to spin the ball when you’re hitting a 5 iron to the green instead of an 8 or nine.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am
As the perfect example of Phil’s biggest problem being between his ears and my loathing of him because of it, watching him take a 9 on the 13th on Saturday was spectacular.
For those who didn’t see it, there’s a steep incline up to the 13th (par 5) green and the pin was in front, close to the edge. If the ball is hit close to that edge with even a little spin or is hit short, it will roll back 60-70 yards. Phil had laid up and had about a 60-70 yard chip up to the green.
The logical play is to hit it over the flag and put back toward the front of the green. The Mickelson play is to try and stick it right on the flag. Not once, not twice, but thrice, Mickelson tries to hit it close only to watch it roll back to his feet. He finally hits it long up and over the flag, three putts, and takes a 9. Fucking brainiac.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:08 am
that’s why mickelson makes for great TV and why zach johnson will forever go down (in my opinion) as the worst major champion of all time.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Before Phil won a major he used to always talk about how pleased he was with how he played even though he’d just shot himself out of the tournament with a 77. That annoyed the shit out of me.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Steve Jones, Todd Hamilton, I’m sure there’s more…
June 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Oh yeah – Shaun Micheel
June 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Outside of the chill that ran up my spine when Tiger made the putt on Sunday on 18, Mickelson’s collapse on the 13th on Saturday was my favorite part of the tournament, so yes, I guess that’s good TV. I was glued to my set for all four wedge shots.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am
some damn good clubs advice, people. many thanks. im taking notes and next week i’ll start actively looking.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:13 am
there’s something to be said for playing smart golf instead of mindlessly bombing it. I do enjoy watching Tiger and Phil attempt near impossible shots, but there’s a time and a place for them. Tiger knows this (witness his british open win where he didn’t use a driver at all), Phil doesn’t, and that’s what separates them.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Todd Hamilton, if i remember correctly, hit a career fairway wood shot during the playoff at Royal Troon to beat Ernie. it was balls out.
zach johnson didn’t make ONE agressive move at the masters, just plinked his way down the course, and let others lose. he did nothing to earn that green jacket other than not putting up big numbers. zach’s win was the epitome of playing not to lose, and that just rubs me the wrong way.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Yeah, fuck Zach Johnson. I mean, he’s only got one more major victory than any of us and we’ve never even TRIED to win one!
June 16th, 2008 at 11:23 am
sure, there’s a time and place for taking your medicine, hell phil would probably have won the 2006 open if he chipped out onto the fairway instead of trying to be a hero, but he wants to win and has the skill to pull that shit out.
phil has always said that this is how he plays the game. he’s won 30+ tourneys and 3 majors and has a career highlight reel that most hall of famers would kill to have. why should he change his ways after being successful?
and why doesn’t anyone remember tiger’s famous fuckups trying to do the same thing? last year in oakmont, he has a great chance to get close from the fairway and flubs it into the rough short of the green and loses it there. last year at the masters, he tries to slice a 4 iron around trees and ends up in Rae’s Creek. same thing.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:25 am
believe me, im not taking anything away from him, if anything, my beef is with the Green Jacket Mafia more than his style of play. and why should he go for shit when he isn’t long enough to reach?
June 16th, 2008 at 11:25 am
ok spence we get it…..you love Phil.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Spence – I don’t know. Johnson laid up on every par 5 (strategically) and played them 11 under. If that’s playing to his strength, I’d hardly call that playing not to lose. Given the big Nos. you can generate at 13 and 15 with the creek/pond, I can’t argue against it for a non-big hitter.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:26 am
oops…posted too soon.
my issue with his win was that watching him win the masters was like watching an LPGA tournament.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:30 am
honestly, im not that big a Phil fan. i just wanna see someone rival tiger and think phil is the only one who can do that, itd make for some good TV. i think he’s a pretty big douchebag with that fake bullshit he puts on for the cameras, but id kill a family member to hit the ball like him.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Tiger will never do what Rich Beem did.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:44 am
people don’t remember Tiger’s fuck ups because he wins, and normally he’s fucking up to try and get back into contention. Phil’s fuck ups are almost always just boneheaded plays at a time where he has no reason to try and do something stupid. Risk/reward analysis is something Phil has no grasp of…I’m glad he’s happy with his style and successful, but if you truly want to see someone rival Tiger, you should be pissed off at him for not trying to improve his game.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:47 am
We need to face facts here. No one ever will rival Tiger. Dude’s a cyborg. He has no pulse, no fear, and he’s about to win the US Open playing on 1 freakin’ leg! I’d like to see him in person just to know for sure that he’s flesh and blood like every one else because right now, I’m not buying it.
@ Spencer– Does it have to be immediate family? I have a sister-in-law you can kill if it will help your golf game. (Disclaimer–This comment not intended to solicit murder for hire.)
June 16th, 2008 at 11:50 am
im more pissed at guys like adam scott, justin rose and sergio for having major worthy talent and not giving a shit. you can say phil doesn’t care, but look at those guys, they’ll miss the cut and walk out with a smile on their faces because they’re mid-20’s millionaires. fuck adam scott especially, that dude SHOULD be top-10 in every major. at least sergio and justin rose ahve been up there before on a semi-regular basis.
if vijay was 10 years younger, he and tiger would be battling it out every weekend. it’s a shame some Euro Tour punk fucked up Vijay’s career early on because he was the one dude who stood up to tiger and had the talent and work ethic to stay there.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
what happened?
June 16th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Taylor Made Burner Irons…look good play better…what ever you do…dont go pick up any “blades” at a garage sale….technology has made the game easier…let the technology work for you….no old callaways that old fellas play
Woods – Get something stiif with a stiff tip…you will probably swing too hard meaning a regular flex for you will prb always slice because club head will lag….you probably dont have the swing speed for a stiff flex, but it beats slicing it all day long
easy to hit sasquatch should do…dont buy anything square…they all sound like aluminum baseball bat / can of corn when you hit them…so does the new cobra f series