Jackassalope

A Response to Eric's Question About Tiger, Golf, and the Gentleman's Game

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Tiger Woods is an enigma in golf. His popularity has always been polarizing. It's just that more people tend to love him rather than hate him. However, even amongst his fans, there's the underlying knowledge of his bad attitude surrounding poor play.

Like all of the sports greats, Tiger is a staunch competitor that hates to lose. That type of tenacity is what allows him to win so often. Pure drive enables skill to shine through even when the odds aren't favorable. But when you play with so much passion, it's hard to block out the negatives as well. You notice it in golf because of the accessibility to the pros during an entire round. Of course, that doesn't make it right.

Don't get me wrong, I think all golfers are competitive. But they don't reach that extra gear of determination Tiger has. Ali had it. Jordan had. Montana had. That's what made them great. And that's what made them polarizing.

It's easy to say that Watson played the gentleman's game the way it should be played. But in this day and age with the amount of money and sponsorships on the line, professional golf is no longer a gentleman's game. It's a competitive sport where the best in the world battle it out for four days a week. And as much as I hate to admit it, if Watson had a little more of that killer instinct in him, he probably would have walked away with the trophy last week.

So no, Tiger is no longer a thing of the past. He's just a reminder that golf is no longer a country club activity. It's an international sport where millions are up for grabs to those who want it the most.