Sports

Tiger defines Masters

Scott Chancey

Masters competitors, by now, have their invitations eloquently worded on the most pristine sheets of paper, reminding them of the pageantry this upcoming week at Augusta National Golf Club.

Mint-green Georgia pines, the blooming azaleas along Amen Corner — and of course, those pimento cheese sandwiches — come to mind. The Masters, as they say, really is a “Tradition unlike any other.”

But really, these days, why waste the time and effort on fancy invitations when all that’s needed to say is: “Welcome to Tiger’s Tournament. Thanks for playing.”

Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts are the cornerstones of what now is the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. But one can simply not mention the Masters these days without also talking about Tiger Woods.

In fact, Tiger and the Masters go hand in hand. You can’t think of one without the other. He’s the first thing people talk about in golf — the most interesting at times, and most polarizing at others. If the subject is not about Woods’ chances to once day break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 career major wins, it’s his chance to win all four majors this year, which Woods added earlier this year was “easily within reason.”

Easily within reason? Talk about an understatement. The golfing world revolves around Woods, who has won nine of his past 11 worldwide events going into the Masters. With four green jackets at the age of 32, and the chance to win yet another at the end this upcoming week, no golfer embodies the game or defines this year’s first Grand Slam more than Woods. He’s by far the toughest player, fundamentally and mentally.

If any golfer has the misfortune of being paired with Woods next Sunday while he is in contention to win, forget it. It won’t matter if it’s Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els. The only saving grace for last year’s champion Zach Johnson was that he was not in the same group as Woods during the final round. He might have heard the crowd’s roar after Woods eagled the 13th hole and pulled within two shots, but if Johnson had been in the same group, that green jacket would have gone to Woods.

Johnson, nor anyone else, would have held up in that situation. One steel glare from Woods is like kryptonite to anyone else. They seemingly forget how to hit the ball much less keep it inside the fairways.

No one is as popular as Woods, either (just look at all the commercials he does), and he has a rock-star following at Augusta National. And even when he doesn’t win, it’s still all about him.

After Johnson won last year’s Masters, he was the story for maybe a day or two. One national sports magazine however did not even bother putting Johnson on its cover despite the intrigue of him having played through countless developmental tours and then beating Woods on golf’s biggest stage.

Instead, the magazine’s cover had — you guessed it — Woods.

Love him or hate him, that’s the way it is.

If Mickelson leads the Masters, the question will be — “What about Tiger?”

Even if Augusta native Charles Howell III or former Augusta State golfer Vaughn Taylor leads during the final stretch, the question will once again be — “What about Tiger?”

And what about former Abraham Baldwin golfer Boo Weekley, who is playing in his first Masters this week?

You get the picture.

And all eyes will be on Tiger Woods this week, more so than any other tournament this year.

There are too many reasons not to look away.

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