Phenomenon
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Sports
August 13, 2007
Tiger Woods Won Another Major —How many times have I heard this phrase before on CNN or read about it on Yahoo News! —I could merely count the ways.
Winning the 89th US PGA Tour Championship is simply phenomenal for him and this would inch him closer to the record held by Jack Nicklaus who had garnered 18 major golfing titles in nearly half a decade of playing professional golf. At age 31, Woods now has 13 major titles tucked under his belt and is fastest among any other player (alive or deceased) in raking in majors and if he continue at this rate, he’d overcome the all-time record in no time at all. He merely needs 5 more major tournament wins and there are four of such each year. At one time he won all four in succession, one after another, and I have a feeling he could do that once again easily in the coming months.
To date, Tiger Woods has more major titles than all top ten golfers in the world combined. In winning this one, he had a tremendously exceptional 9-under par performance on the third round and he is the first player in seven tries to ever make par at the very difficult 18th hole of Southern Hills on the final day. This year, he won five tournaments when no other player had won twice or more.
Just when I thought he was slowing down, Tiger Woods came roaring back with this US PGA Championship win and this only shows how he is a phenomenon through and through.
Since Golf is a sport where talent and skill are not affected so much by age, we can see more of Tiger Woods in the green for a long, long time. Yes, he will easily break all records in Golfing history, no doubt about it, and also a fine gentleman.
Comment by vic — August 13, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
He is only 31, closing in to eclipse Jack Niclaus’ record and to think that he would be playing 19 years more gives you an idea what kind of phenomenal record this man will attain when he gets to 50 and jumps over to the Senior Tour ( well, if he likes to continue playing competetive golf that is)
What more does Tiger need ? Probably nothing else except more wins. With a staggering $50Million income in endorsements every year, he has all what the good life has to offer. His golf winnings of about $5M-$7Million a year is pretty paltry compared to his endorsement income. How much do you think his caddy makes ? Well, at 10% of golf winnings, about $500,000 a year
At one point, Tiger gave him the sportscar which was part of the prize of winning the Ford Championship tournament 
Comment by bw — August 13, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
I think golf is the most boring sport ever.
Comment by Richmond — August 13, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
batang bata pa si tiger, marami pa siyang pwedeng makamit. ay ang galing naman talaga, saludo ako.
Comment by iskoo — August 13, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
I am thinking of who will be his heir apparent. There are young ladies. Boys? I am not aware of. Educate me please. I don’t read nor watch a lot of sports news. I only like football, basketball, rowing, etc. Golf? If you want to walk with them.
Comment by ipanema — August 13, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
To vic: That’s what is good about the game of golf, it does not really choose age althought the strentgh of swing would be affected as the player ages and in this age where the fairways are often too long, this might just be the main hassle.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
To BW: I was thinking even that perhaps Tiger Woods could even set a sort of a first if one day he goes into the senior tour because he is that good. Senior tour players winning a major is really unheard of in recent years although I’ve heard of one in the past decade.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
To richmond: Ha..ha… I can’t blame you for feeling that way about golf because there’s no such extratenoeus action like a dunk or a strike and besides you got to spend hours and hours in front of TV just to finish one 18 hole event, and that’s only one day out of four.
But once you got the feel of the game, you’ll like it I am sure. I once felt that way but got convinced later on that its really a very interesting game. Accuracy is what it’s all about.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
To iskoo: Ang galeng talaga p’re, unbelievable na nga sometimes. I was starting to believe that Tiger Woods would somehow slow down for all the while, he is just human.
But I thought to mistakenly.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
To ipanema: There must be someone out there but Woods is just peaking in his career and an heir apparent would be hard-pressed to be in sight. He is just too good that he sweeps the competition like no other.
I’ve heard about a very young English kid who was featured in CNN or BBC and at a very young age, he showed great skill and confidence. I think a video clip of him is in YOuTube.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
To ipanema: There must be someone out there but Woods is just peaking in his career and an heir apparent would be hard-pressed to be in sight. He is just too good that he sweeps the competition like no other.
I’ve heard about a very young English kid who was featured in CNN or BBC and at a very young age, he showed great skill and confidence. I think a video clip of him is in YOuTube.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Don’t you think all the amateurs that came before Tiger are so sick of him right about now? hehe… just kidding. Tiger Woods is just so good with both a driver and a putt, he’s like the Roger Federer or Chicago Bulls (circa Michael Jordan) of golf.
And what I like about him, is that he appears very unassuming with his red shirt, black cap and black pants.
A class act/ athlete.
Comment by Alternati — August 13, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
well, i am proud he is partly asian. hehehe
golf has its own discipline. and the kind of man Tiger has become may be a manifestation of the learnings he has gotten from golf.
Comment by intsik — August 14, 2007 @ 1:33 am
To alternati: A true gentleman. Great men are often like that, including Tiger Woods.
Comment by Major Tom — August 14, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
To intsik: And perhaps his father’s Vietnam war experience had some input into the kind of training Tiger had from him, ever since as a child.
Comment by Major Tom — August 14, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
The guy is phenomenal and…. I want to become his caddy…
Comment by Sidney — August 14, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
he’s done it again…he hasn’t lost his mojo..yet
Comment by pining — August 14, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
To sidney: I hope he’d get me first if ever his caddy decides to hitch off..
Comment by Major Tom — August 15, 2007 @ 9:50 am
To Pining: And I wish I had his kind of mojo…
Comment by Major Tom — August 15, 2007 @ 9:51 am
he slowed down due to the death of his father. now, he has moved on. he was born to be golfer!
Comment by evi — August 15, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
To evi: I’ve noticed that and now that he has a new baby girl, after a blissful marriage, he’s raring like a tiger.
Comment by Major Tom — August 15, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
I don’t think anyone is better than Tiger. His humility, discipline and talent simply makes him the best. Consistency and heart are his best arsenal.
Comment by Schumey — August 15, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Ang yaman yaman na siguro ni tiger noh?? Hahaha. Hard-earned naman eh kasi he’s really talented and practices really hard in order to improve on his craft. I heard there are may Filipino young golfers who may make it big in golf someday. Just recently, a young Filipino by the name of Marcel Puyat won the juniors in Thailand this year. Watch out for that name.
Comment by ladybug — August 15, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
The great thing about Tiger is that he does not rest on his laurels nor on his phenomenal talent. He continues to be disciplined in practicing and honing his skill. There are a lot of gifted people out there–but only those who have coupled it with hardwork become legends.
Comment by Gypsy — August 15, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
I remember seeing Tiger Woods more than twenty years ago, back when he was just a teeny weeny kid being featured in a US tv program called “That’s Incredible”. He was then being touted as a golf prodigy, and even gave a live exhibition of his skills. Who would have thought…
Comment by snglguy — August 15, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
He’s lucky—he’s super rich by now just because of golf. Hay.
Comment by Abaniko — August 16, 2007 @ 12:02 am
I knew Tiger Woods because of my cousin who is a hardcore Tiger Woods fan…he even name his son Tiger..imagine that?? hehe
Anyway yeah..he’s really outstanding. I mean I don’t really dig the sport (or any sport actually hehe) but I know how Tiger Woods started (yeah because of my cousin hehe) so you know, I can’t help but admire the guy
Comment by verns — August 16, 2007 @ 8:55 am
To schumey: He is rare as diamond on that basis; excellence runs in his veins.
Comment by Major Tom — August 16, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
To ladybug: That’s really a good thing. We had great hopes with Franki Minoza before but he just faded as he aged. With Marcel, our hopes would remain alive. Golf I believe is a sports where we Filipinos could excel, like billiards where heft and height is not a factor but keenness and accuracy is main element.
Comment by Major Tom — August 16, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
I don’t know anything about golf but Tiger Woods is so popular that even I know him. Does he have any rivals?
Comment by Toe — August 16, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
To Gypsy: Great sportsmen are often like that. Those who become lax just wither. I read that the NBA basketball legend Larry Bird use to take 100 shots each day just to hone his skill. Now that’s what I mean by devotion.
Comment by Major Tom — August 16, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
To sngl: I think I’ve seen that video clip before and saw little Tiger making a medium range putt and he made it like a pro that he is right now, so grandly in fact. Who would have thought really.
Comment by Major Tom — August 16, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
To Abaniko: So lucky and so famous—who could ask for more.
Comment by Major Tom — August 16, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
To verns: I have a cousin who was named Muhammad Ali after the legendary boxer did a fight here with Joe Frazier, and my uncle was really a great fan of his.
Comment by Major Tom — August 16, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Ah! Tiger, the god of golf. He really pushed the sport to new heights.
Honestly, I don’t really understand the game, and why can’t ordinary people play it.
Comment by lazarus — August 17, 2007 @ 12:37 am
I don’t really watch golf and I’m not sure if i can consider it a sport since Michelle Wie (who was around 15 or so) nearly qualified for the men’s tour a few years ago. hehehe. Anyway, I remember when Tiger Woods was barely coming on the scene and he was supposed to have some rivalry with Sergio Garcia, DAvid Duval, Ernie Els, David Love III, etc. So much for the rivalry. Woods left them all in the dust.
Comment by Wil — August 18, 2007 @ 12:25 am
To lazarus: it’s not that complicated but for the first time, you’d really won’t make up what’s it all about. But surely, it’s so pricey to play it that only the moneyed would be able to enjoy it.
Comment by Major Tom — August 18, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
To Wil: I thought Ernie Els was the one who could have posed a real challenge to him but he just wilted away as the years gone by. Tiger is just magnificent.
Comment by Major Tom — August 18, 2007 @ 4:52 pm