The Masters began today with the Par 3 tournament. I admit not the most glamorous event that one that makes the issue golf faces because of Tiger more poignant.
The event was showcased by the threesome of Golfs greatest outside of Eldrick; that being Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player. Three men who carried the game of Golf from a country club aristocratic game to one that even the lowliest of plebs can enjoy.
The Day featured these three legends laughing, talking, and signing autographs for an audoring crowd that featured a distinctly young age group and was capped off by a 60-foot putt by Mr. Palmer.
What become clear is that the class these men carry themselves with, and the way they showcase the game is nothing but legendary. This is in stark contrast to that of Tiger; even before his indiscretions were made public.
What these men have that Tiger lacks is respect. Although Tiger has made it clear that he is on the mend; this epiphany seems to contrived to actually be true, coming from a man who relied on sheer will and focus to excell.
Tiger does make the game more global and TV ratings thrive, no question. His behavior however is in stark contrast to the expectations of a game that is polite, humble and unassuming. Golf is a game that belongs to those who respect the serentity of the game; not a club throwing frat boy who doesnt understand how to delete a phone history.
This reporter would take an Arnold Palmer autograph over an Eldrick Woods any day of the week
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Don't hate the player...haha. What most people dont know is the Arnie was a massive womanizer in his day and that Tiger is just like the rest of them. It's just in this day in age with a hyper-media focus on celebrities and sports stars, they can not move a finger without it being reported. Case in point, TSN had a feature report saying that Tiger arrived at Augusta wearing a green shirt, pretty ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI agree Tiger's outbursts are a little immature but it does show how much he cares. I am not condoning his actions off the course but my bet is that people will forget about this pretty quickly and in 30 years people will only remember how many Tournys he won and not how many ladies he did.
I agree, Tiger has never shown the appropriate respect to the game like those greats. This might be the reason he is so popular, Tiger is not the typical great that the game is use to and accustomed to seeing.
ReplyDelete