Joe the Plumber, meet Tiger the Golfer
I’m starting to wonder: Am I the only hacker Tiger Woods won’t play golf with? Hey, Tiger, I’m a regular guy too.
After caddying last week at Torrey Pines for John Abel, a 59-year-old Buick contest winner from New Jersey, Woods joined 24 “regular guys” at Donald Trump’s L.A. course (Trump National Golf Club). The players had won a contest sponsored by Nike and Golf Digest. Originally Tiger planned to play a hole with all the winners, but he still can’t swing a golf club following his June knee surgery, so he followed each group on the 10th hole, giving advice and reading greens.
Joining them was Bill Pennington, a golf writer for The New York Times, who got a good column out of it. For Pennington, accustomed to seeing the media-room Woods (about as forthcoming as a mob boss on the witness stand), the surprise is how much fun Woods is on the golf course.
Woods greeted everyone with a beaming smile and a vigorous handshake. He was moving without a limp and wore a light blue shirt, khaki shorts and white sneakers. He waved his hand toward the ocean and playfully apologized for the poor weather and the bad view. (It was about 90 degrees, and the vista from the elevated tee was stunning.)
“God, I miss the SoCal weather,” he said.
This was not the Tiger Woods I had been around in tournaments throughout the past decade. There was no stoicism. He giggled and asked questions. It was like being at a barbecue.
So how did Pennington play with the World No. 1 eight feet away? I don’t want to give it away, but let's just say he does a lot better than Stephen Ames.
Posted by: M. Taylor | Jan 21, 2009 12:42:33 PM
Agree with Rolf Resenhoeft in that it is the media which portrays him to be other than a congenial fellow. Majority of us do not know Tiger so we can only go by what we read and the few words he says during interviews. The main criticism one can really have of Tiger is his sometimes swearing AT HIMSELF on the course (which I know will diminish as SAM calls him out on it). However, if we go to his website, we learn much more about him and his off-course goals. He tends to be honest in what he says and declines to say much because so much is "mind-read" and interpretation is subject to how well it will sell newspapers or carried on TV channels or on YouTube. Can't wait for his return to competition.
Posted by: Rory Sabbatini | Nov 2, 2008 12:48:56 AM
Sure Tiger's a nice guy. Nice enough to get me booted out of Nike after my calendar year and suppressed from mainstream TV. Me and my big mouth.
Posted by: Fred Guajardo | Oct 28, 2008 6:27:26 PM
I can tell you one thing mr.woods.I don,t watch golf on tv unless you're playing.
Posted by: JayCee | Oct 27, 2008 3:14:30 PM
How fortunate those linksters were! I'll wager their cameras are filled with the events of that memorable round. One more example of how awesome TW can be. Certainly he has unattractive moments as we all do, but he is a personable,empathetic, future HOFer. I wait patiently for his return.
::HATS OFF:: SHAKE HANDS:: :- ))
PEACE
Posted by: Rolf Resenhoeft | Oct 27, 2008 1:59:40 PM
He's always been a regular guy! It's the Media not portraying him as such.
He really needed the time off. Now, He'll be 85% to 100% healthy. Wow, The rest of the field better watch out, he's going to come back swinging!! Good Luck Tiger!!!!!
Posted by: Arlene Schadt | Oct 27, 2008 1:15:00 PM
The injury Tiger Woods had just may be a blessing in disguise. For the first time in his career he probably has time to be a normal guy. His commitment to golf and his goals are flawless, we can all learn a lesson from him. So I say, "enjoy your time off, Tiger". I just wish it was me playing golf and having him give met tips. "Thanks, Tiger", for all the lessons you give me every time I watch you on TV.
Posted by: DJ | Oct 27, 2008 12:59:52 PM
That would be pretty cool.
Posted by: Rore | Oct 27, 2008 12:59:43 PM
How could any halfway serious golfer not win with Tiger Woods coaching them and reading greens for them? Tiger is truly an outstanding young man!