When You Think Tiger Woods, I Hope You Think Of Me
I hope my son thinks of me, when he thinks about Tiger Woods.
It was the summer of 2006. I walked out of the DMV proudly waving my new driver’s license - the golden ticket to freedom for every newly turned sixteen-year-old. A few days later my parents finally handed over the keys and let me set out on my own. I tuned the radio to Kicks 101.5 and started my first solo drive. As I cruised down familiar back roads, sounds from the newly released Taylor Swift song filled my car.
“When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think my favorite song….”
Taylor Swift’s debut single “Tim McGraw” was released on June 16th, 2006. That exact same day, Tiger Woods missed the cut in a major for the first time since he turned pro in 1996. He played in 37 consecutive majors, making it to the weekend in every single one, until this one. Fans, fellow players, and even Tiger (eventually) contributed most of his poor performance at this tournament due to the passing of his father, Earl, only a month prior.
Earl Woods introduced his son to the game of golf. Every Tiger Woods fanatic has seen the video of two-year-old Tiger from “The Mike Douglas Show” or the clip from the 1997 Masters where Tiger buries his face in his dad’s shoulder and cries tears of joy after winning his first green jacket. When Tiger played golf, he thought of Earl. When Tiger watched golf, he thought of Earl.
In a press conference heading into that 2006 US Open, Tiger was asked about playing again so soon after losing his dad. And while he admitted it was difficult, he also shared that getting back out there brought back some great memories. “To remember and think back on all the lessons, life lessons Dad taught me through the game of golf. All these things come rushing back to you.”
Those lessons definitely rushed back - after that missed cut at the US Open, he went on to win six consecutive PGA Tour-sanctioned events: The British Open (in Liverpool), Buick Open, PGA Championship, Bridgestone Invitational, Deutsche Bank Championship and the American Express Championship. Note: there are TWO majors in that list!
Listeners of our podcast know that I’m a big Taylor Swift fan. On the recently released Taylor’s Version of Red, one of the new vault songs is titled “I Hope You Think About Me” that was even a trending Tik Tok sound for a while. It reminded me of her debut song, “Tim McGraw” and the last line of the chorus that says, “When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think of me…”
When Tiger thinks of certain courses, he thinks of his dad and the lessons he taught him or the memories they share. When I think of Tiger Woods, I think of my grandpa and how he brought me to my first tournament where I got to see Tiger win. When my son thinks of Tiger Woods, I hope he thinks of me and how I make sure he still gets to see Tiger play whenever he’s in a tournament.
And when you, Dear Reader, think of Taylor Swift….I hope you think of me too. :)
Tiger Woods Wins the 2019 Masters
Recollecting on the final two days watching Tiger Woods win the 2019 Masters.
Tiger Woods has won the 2019 Masters, and golf writers everywhere collectively sit back and wonder if they’d ever write that phrase again.
Hyperbole is hard to avoid in times like these, and especially when involving Tiger Woods. The now 15-time major winner has a tendency to overcome even the darkest exaggerations. None of us thought we’d see him play golf again, but he did. There was no chance he’d ever contend in a tournament, until he did. Certainly, he’d never win again, but then he did.
And now? Oh… and now.
On Saturday, Hackett came by to watch the third round while Tatro was on the mend (although no doubt watching from his couch). We naturally fell into our normal banter about Tiger’s chances, along with what seemed like 30 other players within an earshot of the lead. “If-only’s” were offered regularly, and we’d laugh thinking about how incredible it would be if Tiger could somehow… some way….
When news hit that weather would push tee-times up to the early morning and that Tiger would play in the final three-ball group, our joking suddenly took a turn. This could actually happen. We might see something neither of us thought we’d see again. Could it be possible?
Somewhere in another room, Mrs. GU — Kristen — could be heard shaking her head and telling us “I told you so.”
Sunday’s early round was similar to what I remember when waking up on Christmas morning. You know, before we all became too “old” and “smart” to realize there was no man in a red suit who visited overnight. The impending real life responsibility of going to a family wake later that afternoon was forgotten for a little while, replaced by a few hours to simply sit, watch, and enjoy Masters Sunday.
Chicagoland did see snow in April, however. Sometimes analogies need all the help they can get.
We all know what happened next. By 1:30pm CT, Kristen and I watched as our golf hero, the man whose career we both watched for over 20 years, was on the verge of the impossible. With arms raised and a roar louder than ever, Tiger Woods accomplished what couldn’t be done.
With smiles on our faces, we cried. Based on Hackett and Tatro’s messages on our group text, they did too.
Later, back in reality prepared to console family members and hide in the funeral parlor lounge with stale coffee and donuts, a buzz reverberated. A funny thing happens when friends and family know you “write about golf or something”; they want to make sure you heard about that golf thing that just happened.
But everyone knew. It was understood. We all watched, even family members who never watch golf. My father-in-law smiled, we shook hands, and gave the obligatory fist pump (despite being slightly resisted due to sport coats).
That is the impact of Tiger Woods. That is the impact of The Masters.
We all knew about that golf thing that just happened.
The New Golden Age of Golf | Episode 167
Adam recaps the 2018 British Open and discusses why he believes we are in the new golden age of golf.
On this week's episode, Adam breaks down the 2018 British Open including the fantastic run by Tiger Woods and eventual win by Francesco Molinari. Adam also explains why he believes we are living in the new golden age of golf.
The Resurgence of Tiger Woods | Episode 155
In an episode that is completely fan-boyish, golf blogger Dan Bier of TwoInchesShort.com joins me to talk Tiger Woods.
Dan Bier of TwoInchesShort.com joins me as we go complete fan-boy about Tiger Woods's triumphant return to relevance. Follow Dan Bier on Twitter at @TwoInchesShort.
Episode 97: Brendan Porath of SB Nation
Brendan Porath, Golf Editor and Staff Writer for SBNation.com, joins the podcast this evening. Brendan and I talk the difference between Tiger Woods's health and that of Phil Mickelson and the paths both have taken to sustain their success on the course. We also discuss what our expectations should be from the new greats in golf, including Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy. Finally, we opine how golf should be covered in the social media age and if transparency from players is a good thing.
Follow Brendan Porath on Twitter at @brendanporath.
EPISODE 91: Talking Tiger Woods with Bridgestone Golf
Adam Rehberg and Elliot Mellow from Bridgestone Golf return to talk about Tiger Woods signing a sponsorship deal with the company.
What was the testing process with Tiger like? Did he try all golf balls under the Bridgestone umbrella, or did he specifically want the B330S? They had to send him HOW MANY GOLF BALLS?!?!?
Follow Adam Rehberg on Twitter at @rehbirdie.
Follow Elliot Mellow on Twitter at @MellowGolf.
Tiger Woods Returns: 3 Things to Watch For
TIger Woods returns to competition at this week's Hero World Challenge. Here are 3 things to watch out for from Big Cat.
Tiger Woods makes his "triumphant" return to competitive golf this week at the Hero World Challenge, where he's served as tournament host since 1999. While he may be the only person on the planet who thinks he has a chance at winning, the eyes of the golfing world will be securely fixed on Big Cat. Is Tiger ready to come back to golf? Will he be anywhere near the Tiger of Old (no)? What should we expect from a man who hasn't played on the PGA Tour in over 12 months?
Here are three things I'll be watching for from Tiger Woods before I'm comfortable saying he's back in form:
His short game
During Tiger's most recent comeback he struggled immensely with his putting, chipping, pitching, and essentially anything within 100 yards of the green. In fact, that might be putting it lightly.
Remember what we saw at the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open? Yeesh...
That may have been Tiger's worst short game performance of his career, and he'll need to face those fears (likely) multiple times during this no-cut tournament. However, during a pre-tournament interview on Tuesday Tiger said he's basically fallen in love with chipping again, because that's a totally normal thing to say.
Tiger tends to go where his short game goes, making this part of his return vitally important.
His Tee Game
Tiger has always been inconsistent off the tee box, especially with his driver. Anyone who has read Hank Haney's The Big Miss (yeah, that's right, I read books. IN AN OFFICE.) will recall Haney's suggestion that Tiger was downright afraid of the club.
While not as critical as his short game, Tiger's ability to keep the ball in play off the tee this week will be a huge sign of things to come in terms of his competitive ability. The story has always remained the same: when Tiger gets quick, his shots fly everywhere.
If you follow me on Twitter you know I've been pleading for Tiger to slow down his tempo for years. If his "new swing" floating around social media is a sign of things to come, however, we might be in for a pleasant surprise this week.
His Ability to Cope
Above all else is Tiger's ability to cope with a glaring fact: he isn't the big man on the block anymore.
Chances are Tiger Woods will hit a bunch of bad shots this week. He's going to make bogeys. He's going to take penalties. And he'll have to do it for four full rounds, no matter what.
This might be the first time ever that nobody is expecting Tiger to win this week... except Tiger.
His willingness to play to his new role on the PGA Tour -- that of a veteran in the twilight of his career -- will speak loudly to not only Tiger's ability to cope with the dozens of names on Tour who are flat out better than him, but to his comfort level living in his own skin.
We have never seen this Tiger Woods before, and we'll never seen the Tiger of Old ever again. We know that's the way life works.
The key this week will be whether or not Tiger Woods can accept that, too.
VIDEO: Watch Tiger Woods hit three balls in the water at Congressional
Watch the video of Tiger Woods hitting three golf balls into the water at Congressional that broke the internet earlier this week.
You've probably heard by now that Tiger Woods hit three golf balls in the drink at Congressional Country Club during a media event. A series of seemingly simple 102-yard wedge shots are the crux of a new investigation into the realm of "Is Tiger Woods done??" You know, because we media types are idiots and will do anything for a page click. Let's watch the video!
Did you know that USA Today put this on the front page of their newspaper? Not the sports section... THE FRONT PAGE.
Love him or hate him, everyone still likes to talk about Tiger Woods no matter the context or the subject. At the very least, let's not take too much from three golf swings at a media event, folks.
Golf Unfiltered Podcast 69: TaylorMade Golf Sale and Tiger Expectations
On this week's episode we discuss the TaylorMade Golf sale and what we should expect when Tiger Woods returns to golf.
On today's episode of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast I discuss the breaking news involving the Adidas Group/TaylorMade Golf and what our expectations should be when Tiger Woods returns to golf. Be sure to give us a 5-star review on iTunes! And hey, leave a few words as well. It will really help us out!
Follow us on Twitter: @golfunfiltered
Golf Unfiltered Podcast 64: Robert Lusetich
Robert Lusetich, golf writer for Fox Sports, joins us on tonight's episode of The Golf Unfiltered Podcast.
Robert Lusetich, golf writer for Fox Sports, joins us on tonight's episode of The Golf Unfiltered Podcast. Robert and I talk about the in's and out's of covering anonymous sources and the risks associated with breaking news stemming from those sources. We discuss the events surrounding Robert's tweets on Tiger Woods' health status and the fallout in the days that followed. Do we know anything about Tiger's latest status, and what does Robert think is a realistic timeline for Tiger's return to golf?
We then end the show with answering a few of your Twitter questions!
Be sure to listen to The Golf Unfiltered Podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes and the Golf News Net radio network!
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Golf Unfiltered Podcast 55: Jay Busbee
Jay Busbee from Yahoo Sports joins tonight's episode of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast.
Jay Busbee from Yahoo Sports joins tonight's episode of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast. Jay and I talk about the similarities and differences between covering golf and other sports, plus all of the oddities that are inherent in covering this great game. What are Jay's thoughts on how golf is covered in modern-day journalism? How does that differ from other sports he covers?
We then discuss Tiger Woods and how his career path compares to other greats in different sports, including examples like Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant; two stars who are nearing the end of their respective careers.
Jay and I touch on a number of other topics including the Ryder Cup, Jordan Spieth's win at Kapalua, and much more!
Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.
Be sure to subscribe to The Golf Unfiltered Podcast on iTunes and Android using the links below!
TWIGB: Tiger Woods does not owe Elin Nordegren $54 million
Rumors are swirling that Tiger Woods still owes ex-wife Elin Nordegren $54 million by January or he will lose his home. Don't believe everything you read.
Tiger Woods is rumored to still owe a ton of money to his ex-wife. This is why you should never read gossip sites. Earlier in the week gossip writer Jose Lambiet wrote that Tiger Woods "must pay ex-wife Elin Nordegren $54 million by January 15, 2016" or he's likely to lose his home. On the surface that sounds horrible. But apparently it isn't true.
As Ryan Ballengee of The Golf News Net explains, Woods "took out a mortgage on his Jupiter, Fla., home in the value of $54.5 million." That is basically half of the overall divorce settlement between Woods and Nordegren, valued at roughly $110 million back in 2010. Nordegren was to serve as the issuer of the mortgage through an LLC, which required the mortgage be paid in full by Jan. 15th.
Confused? Don't worry. None of us will ever have that type of money.
Technically speaking, however, Woods did owe $54.5 million to Nordegren in the form of mortgage payments...five years ago. A big part of the settlement -- which was omitted in Lambiet's piece but included in Ballengee's -- was that the debt would be paid via regular monthly mortgage payments.
Which means that it is highly unlikely that Woods still owes the totality of the mortgage amount today since he would have had to not make any payments toward his home for five years for that to be true. Obviously doing so would have cost him his home long before today.
Lesson learned today: never read gossip site reports on anything related to Tiger Woods.
Golf Unfiltered Podcast 50: Shaun Micheel
The Golf Unfiltered Podcast celebrates its 50th episode this week by welcoming 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel to the show!
The Golf Unfiltered Podcast celebrates its 50th episode this week by welcoming 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel to the show! Shaun and I discuss how he got hooked on golf while growing up in Orlando, Fla. He then explains what it took for him to make the jump from collegiate golf to the professional circuit, and what he experienced in the early years. This all leads up to Shaun's incredible win at the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, punctuated by one of the most famous 7-iron shots in the history of the championship.
We then dive deep into the PGA Tour drug policy, including how Shaun was forced to work with its inconsistencies when taking medication for a medical issue in 2005. What does Shaun think about the way the policy is enforced these days? What is his opinion on how the Scott Stallings situation was handled?
Finally, Shaun shares a few stories about playing with Tiger Woods, what he thought of Tiger's recent press conference, and if this is the end of Tiger.
Follow Shaun on Twitter at @shaunmicheelpga.
Subscribe to us on iTunes and Android via the links below!
Golf Unfiltered Podcast 49: Is Tiger Woods about to retire?
Luke Kerr-Dineen from USA Today's For the Win blog returns to the Golf Unfiltered Podcast to discuss Tiger Woods' latest press conference... and what it means for Tiger's career. Luke and I share our initial reaction to hearing the thoughts and sounds of Tiger's depressing presser in the days leading up to this week's Hero World Challenge. This was not the usual Tiger we see on the podium, and it almost seemed like he has accepted the idea of retiring. But is it too soon? What more can we expect from this generation's best golfer? Has the initial reaction been too 'knee-jerk'?
We then put our respective armchair psychologist hats on as we try to make sense of the enigma that is Tiger Woods. Has he ever truly recovered from the pain of losing his father? Or did his public scandal in 2009 play more of a role in shaping the man we see today?
Things get deep in this episode, so be sure to listen via the player below!
Follow Luke Kerr-Dineen on Twitter at @LukeKerrDineen.
Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Android using the links below!
Golf Unfiltered Podcast 45: ShutFaceGolf
The editor and owner of ShutFaceGolf.com joins the Golf Unfiltered Podcast tonight, and things get about as unfiltered as they can
We throw caution to the wind tonight on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast as I welcome the editor and owner of ShutFaceGolf.com onto the show. For those who aren't aware of ShutFaceGolf (SFG), he's an outspoken -- and anonymous -- golf blogger who can be a bit vulgar and controversial at times. Actually... that's probably underselling it. SFG and I discuss the pros and cons of being anonymous in the golf blogging game, how his website has been received, and some of the negative feedback he's received over the years. We definitely don't hold back on this topic!
SFG and I then discuss a recent article on his blog, the upcoming WGC-HSBC Champions tournament, his thoughts on the new Steve Williams book, and much more.
Follow ShutFaceGolf on Twitter @shutfacegolf.
Be sure to subscribe to us on iTunes via the link below or on our home page!
Steve Williams says Tiger Woods treated him like a slave in new book
Steve Williams, the former caddie of Tiger Woods, has a tell-all book about his former boss coming out Monday. And it isn't pretty.
Steve Williams, the boisterous and outspoken former caddie of Tiger Woods, has some eye-opening things to say about his former employer in Williams' upcoming new tell-all book, due out Monday. In an update to a January 2015 article appearing on stuff.co.nz, a New Zealand-based website, an excerpt of Williams' book, Extract: Out of the Rough, describes how Woods treated Williams during their 13 years together on the course.
I was adamant that some of his behaviour on the course had to change. He was well known for his bad temper and, while that wasn’t pleasant to witness, you could live with it because it ended as quickly as it started. But he had other bad habits that upset me. I wanted him to prove to me he could change his behaviour and show me – and the game of golf – more respect.
One thing that really pissed me off was how he would flippantly toss a club in the general direction of the bag, expecting me to go over and pick it up. I felt uneasy about bending down to pick up his discarded club – it was like I was his slave. The other thing that disgusted me was his habit of spitting at the hole if he missed a putt. Tiger listened to what I had to say, the air was cleared and we got on with it – his goal was to be the best player in history and my goal was to keep working as best I could to help make that happen.
If the excerpt is any indication of how the rest of the book will read, Tiger is going to come out of this looking worse than he did following former swing instructor Hank Haney's The Big Miss. However, Williams doesn't come across very noble here, either.
The obvious connection drawn from Williams' use of the word "slave" in the book is made to his comments referring to Tiger back in August 2011. While caddying for eventual-winner Adam Scott at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Williams seemed a little too excited about the victory, acting like he personally won the event. When asked about that reaction at an award ceremony in November 2011, Williams replied, "I wanted to shove it up that black arsehole."
Call me crazy, but if you don't want to be deemed a racist, you have to chose your words a little more wisely.
Beating Tiger Woods: Richard Sterne
This week on Beating Tiger Woods we profile Richard Sterne; the latest golf legend who is now ranked higher than the best golfer of our generation.
Welcome to the newest feature on Golf Unfiltered: Beating Tiger Woods, a satirical weekly report of where Tiger Woods sits in the Official World Golf Ranking and who is immediately above him on that list. This is the place to honor these budding golf legends who clearly deserve your attention as they supplant our generation's greatest player from his steadily decreasing ranking. In the event that I can't find any information on the newest Tiger Tamer, I'll just make something up. You probably won't know the difference.
Tiger's Current OWGR: 351
Player Better than Tiger Woods today: Richard Sterne
Golf is a funny game. One moment you are winning the 1999 South African Junior Strokeplay & Matchplay Championship; the next, you are officially known as a better golfer than Tiger Woods.
Such is the case for Richard Sterne, the 34-year-old South African golf juggernaut who can now bask in the glory of being ranked higher than Tiger in the OWGR. Sterne's rise to golf glory may not come as a surprise to some, as he has made a name for himself on not one but TWO professional tours: the European Tour and Sunshine Tour. He has amassed nine professional wins in his career -- a mere 70 wins fewer than Woods -- each proving to be vital steps in what has become a staircase of greatness.
With homes in both Pretoria, South Africa and Manchester, England, it is fair to say that Sterne may flash his fame and fortune louder than the tastefully muted celebrations of success a-la Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson. Still, it is hard to fault a man who, after years of struggling with the hardcore streets of South Africa and listening to workout stories from Gary Player, can now take pride in besting the greatest golfer of our time.
"That was probably the best final round of my career,'' Sterne, a man of few words, once said following his victory at the prestigious Joburg Open in 2013. "It was quite special to finish the way I did.''
Indeed it was, King Richard. For now the kingdom is truly yours, and we are simply peasants living in it.
Beating Tiger Woods: Tyler Aldridge
Welcome to the newest feature on Golf Unfiltered: Beating Tiger Woods, a weekly report of where Tiger Woods sits in the Official World Golf Ranking and who is immediately above him on that list. This is the place to honor these budding golf legends who clearly deserve your attention as they supplant our generation's greatest player from his steadily decreasing ranking. In the event that I can't find any information on the newest Tiger Tamer, I'll just make something up. You probably won't know the difference.
Tiger's Current OWGR: 334
Player Better than Tiger Woods today: Tyler Aldridge
Tyler Aldridge wasn't always destined for golf royalty. Born in Caldwell, Idaho, Aldridge played golf at Vallivue High School where he was a lowly Vallivue Falcon just trying to make it in this crazy game. Little did Aldridge know that his school's motto, "Touching the Future," would become prophecy for a man who one day would be a greater golfer than Tiger Woods.
It is reported that Aldridge always carries three quarters in his pocket while playing, undoubtedly a hat-tip to the Father, Son, and Godly Golf Game that this unprecedented talent showcases in each of his 18 career PGA Tour starts since 2009.
Yes, that's right. It only took 18 tournaments to surpass the so-called "Chosen One." We are all witnesses.
Aldridge's legend grew on through 24 events on the Web.com Tour, which speaks highly to his sense of charity and willingness to showcase his talents to the common man. His win at the 2015 Greater Dallas Open was at a tournament originally entitled the "Not-So-Great Dallas Open" before he stepped off the plane.
His performance at this week's 2015 Frys.com Open (T55) may have seemed mediocre to the uninformed, but has already surpassed Tiger's 2016 earnings by $13,500 in only one event.
Golf Unfiltered Podcast 38: Ryan Ballengee of Golf News Net
Ryan Ballengee from Golf News Net joins us on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast this week. We talk Jordan Spieth, golf writing, golf blogging and more!
Ryan Ballengee, owner and editor at Golf News Net is back on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast this week to talk Jordan Spieth, golf writing and much more. First, Ryan and I recap the Year of Jordan and all the greatness that came with it. Was this a one-hit wonder from a talented youngster or the beginning of golf's new superstar? How does Jordan's year truly compare to those of other greats like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus? Is he truly the best player in the world or just the product of a complicated golf ranking system?
We then shift gears into a discussion about golf writing and golf blogging. Are there similarities between the two, are they different, or is it an argument that has to be left alone? Ryan and I also touch on a recent article of his discussing press releases and how there's a misconception on readership opportunity for those products.
This is definitely an episode for golf fans, golf nerds and golf writers alike!
Follow Ryan Ballengee on Twitter at @RyanBallengee.
Subscribe to us via iTunes using the link below!
EMERGENCY Golf Unfiltered Podcast: Tiger Woods back surgery
With the breaking news about the latest Tiger Woods back surgery, The Old Lady hops on the podcast to offer her take on the crumbling golf superstar.
What better way to discuss the late breaking news about the latest Tiger Woods back surgery earlier in the week than by welcoming back fan-favorite Kristen to the show? Kristen, a.k.a "The Old Lady", and I toss around various ridiculous takes on Tiger's surprise microdiscectomy on Wednesday of this week. Why can't this guy stay healthy? Should his doctors be to blame? Perhaps it is his workout regimen? There appears to be more questions than answers on this topic.
Next, and by complete surprise to me, Kristen whips out a list of notes and rapid-fire questions to bombard me with for about 20 minutes. Definitely the most uncomfortable I've felt on the podcast since it began! THANKS KRISTEN.
Follow Kristen on Twitter @anast24.
Subscribe to the Golf Unfiltered Podcast on iTunes via the link below!
