Tiger Woods horror show

Tiger Woods

Watching a once great golfer decline into the ranks of amateur duffers is both acutely uncomfortable and addictive viewing.

I needed to be up early for meetings this morning, but I was up until the early hours looking at Woods’ attempt to hit a 100 yard wide fairways with his driver. It was compelling TV for all the wrong reasons. His form going into this week was wretched and Woods must have approached such a difficult course with a great deal of trepidation.

Golf is a brutal business in that there’s no hiding place. Woods always attracts a huge gallery. In the past it was was to witness a genius at work, as I did when he competed at the Open at Royal St. George’s a while back. He didn’t win that year, but when I followed him on the Saturday, it was a thrilling experience. Nowadays, many of the gallery seem to be there to watch a once great golfer descend into the depths of a club golfer on bad day. Car crash sport at the highest level.

The experience of seeing Woods crisscross the fairways made me wonder what his plight did for both the viewing figures on TV and his popularity. I’m sure I’m not alone at being mesmerised by his decline. It’s the ultimate test of a person’s character to be exposed before the watching millions in such a savage, public manner. I recall him being as short as 3/1 to win a major golf tournament at the height of his powers. By all accounts he was never the most popular figure in the locker room and media center but there does appear to be a degree of sympathy for him amongst his peers and journalists.

I think he’s facing up to his seemingly weekly crises on the golf course with a great deal of honesty and sincerity. He still appears totally focused on returning himself to former glory. You can’t fault his dedication and commitment. When you factor in the recent problems in his personal life, he appears to be bearing up extremely well. Of course, he’s still a multi-millionaire, with a lifestyle most of us can only dream about. But as he shot 80 yesterday, I’m not sure the millions of the bank did anything to save him from grave embarrassment and total humiliation.

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