This is a June 16, 2008, file photo showing Tiger Woods kissing the championship trophy after winning the US Open, against Rocco Mediate, left, after a sudden death hole following an 18-hole playoff round at Torrey Pines Golf Course, in San Diego. "I don't know of anyone who has been at the pinnacle consistently over 10 years _ in his case, more than 10 years," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. Such dominance is what makes Woods a candidate for The Associated Press' Athlete of the Decade. (AP Photo)
New York, NY (WFAN) -- Last Wednesday, the Associated Press announced their ‘Athlete of the Decade.’ This is voted on by editors at newspapers around the country. And drum roll please…most of you know by now that the ‘Athlete of the Decade’ is none other than the guy who everyone has been talking about for the past four weeks now – Tiger Woods.
Tiger received 56 of the 142 votes cast by editors at U.S. newspapers who are members of the AP. More than half the ballots were returned after the Nov. 27 car accident outside his Florida home that set off the news about Tiger’s other life.
Whether or not you agree with Tiger being named ‘Athlete of the Decade’ (Roger Federer is right up there as well, capturing a record 15 Major Championships in tennis, and he did it all from 2003-2009!), one has to appreciate Tiger’s career and dominance in the sport of golf since he came on the scene.
There is no question that Woods has dominated golf this decade, winning 12 of his 14 Major golf championships in this decade alone and finishing runner-up in six other Majors! To review, his ‘first’ Major championship dates back to 1997, when he shot a tournament record 18-under-par 270 en route to a 12 shot victory. Number two came at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club when he beat Sergio Garcia by one shot.
He won his third Major Championship (his first in the new decade) at the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach with an exclamation point. I remember standing on the 18th green, watching in amazement as he destroyed the record books, beating Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Cabrera by 15 shots with a 12-under-par 272!
Three months later, I was again standing on the 18th green, this time at the famed St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland for the 2000 British Open. It was unusually warm for Scotland with the temperatures in the 80’s all week long and no rain. It seemed as if the entire town was celebrating the Open, the warm weather and Tiger’s victory—a 19-under-par 269, for an eight stroke win over Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els. Tiger became the youngest player and fifth ever to complete a career Grand Slam, winning each of the major championships.
I happened to be standing next to his Mother, Kutilda, at the award’s ceremony near the 18th green, watching in amazement at this young man, not only winning Majors, but in record breaking fashion, and thinking how proud I was to be covering a sport where such an athlete would be showcasing his talents year after year. The sky was the limit for this kid, I thought. His mother was so proud and asked me to take a picture of her standing in front of Tiger holding up the Claret Jug. It was a little strange, as it seemed as if even his Mother was on the outside, looking in, not able to get too close to the top golfer in the world. Who would ever have imagined that nine years later, Tiger’s world and hers would have been turned upside down by his behavior off the course and that the entire world would have been talking about a different side of Tiger—- the side no one knew – and not about his golf!
Tiger’s fifth Major Championship came at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club with Tiger beating Bob May by one stroke in a three-hole playoff.
The 2001 Masters was Woods’ sixth major championship and the second of his four career Masters titles. He carded a 16-under-par 272 for the tournament to beat David Duval by two strokes. With the win, Woods became the first golfer in history to hold all four major championship titles at the same time.
His seventh Major Championship would have to wait until the next year, again at The Masters. Tiger shot a 12-under-par 276 for the tournament, winning by three strokes over Retief Goosen.
In 2002, Tiger came to Bethpage Black for the US Open and shot a 3- under-par 277, and beat Phil Mickelson by three strokes. (I remember asking Tiger afterwards if he would sign a cap for a kid who suffers with a disability and he did. I must admit, I was holding my breath, not sure if he would. He doesn’t make signing autographs a habit).
His ninth Major championship came three years later, in dramatic fashion, as he sunk a 15 footer for birdie on the 18th green at Augusta to beat Chris DiMarco on the first playoff hole. The talk up to that point had been – what is happening to Tiger? He went Major-less in 10 Championships. But somehow as he steered down that long putt for birdie, most of us knew he would drain it, because that's what Tiger had done – time after time, in major moments. That was the same Masters when on the par three, 16th hole, he sunk that unbelieveably long chip shot from off the green. He aimed about 25 feet left of the hole and the ball broke right and rolled slowly downhill, resting for a second on the edge, until dropping into the cup. It was one of my most memorable play-by-play calls ever, as I was in the midst of voicing a live up-date on WFAN Radio, when it happened and was able to call it, live, on the air.
Three months later, Tiger returned to St. Andrews for the 2005 British Open and won another Claret Jug, with a five stroke win over Colon Montgomerie.
A year later, Tiger captured his third British Open title, this time by two strokes over Chris DiMarco at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course. It was his 11th career Major Championship.
In 2006 at the PGA Championship (again at Medina Country Club), Tiger shot an 18- under-par 270, to beat Shaun Micheel by five shots. A year later at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Tiger shot an 8-under-par 272 to beat Woody Austin by two strokes. It was his 13th career Major Championship.
His 14th Major Championship title came in 2008 in perhaps his most dramatic win ever. With a bum knee that made Tiger wince in pain throughout the week, he beat Rocco Mediate in an all-out, back-and-forth war that went to a 19-hole playoff at Torrey Pines. He blew a three-shot lead with eight holes to play before rallying with a birdie to send the 18 hole playoff into over time! It took 91 holes, but Tiger managed to pull it off and win another one.
Wow – great memories. Incredible golf. Wouldn’t you prefer to remember Tiger Woods, the golfer?
He has five more Major Championships to win to pass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major Titles. When Tiger is ready, he will be back, stronger than ever, and once his ‘mission’ resumes, so will the attention on his golf. All he has to do is win golf tournaments – and he will begin to win back the critics and the fans who have become so disgusted and disappointed in him. He knows he has to start winning again to save face. Of course, I’m assuming he won’t make any more negative headlines off the course. Returning to golf and winning the big ones to make history, will be his biggest challenge and when he does it, his poor decision making off the course, will be ‘history’ and his records on the course will last forever.
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