Jun 18

Any doubt about Tiger Woods as a closer after U.S. Open Oakmont finish insane

Tiger Woods didn’t come from behind to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont. And you know what this means towards his legacy? You know what it proves about Tiger as a closer?

Absolutely nothing.

Anyone who tries to equate the fact that Woods has not come from behind on the last day to win any of his 12 majors with some internal Tiger failing is more messed up than Lindsay Lohan and Mel Gibson put together. Yes, Tiger finished second for the second straight major. Yes, he didn’t pull off the final round push for the second straight major. That happens to the all-time greats. Woods is going to get some seconds and ties for second because he always gives himself a chance to win. Don’t forget that Jack Nicklaus had 19 of these runner ups and nobody’s doubting Nicklaus’ clutch guts.

Tiger is still the greatest golfer of all time. He’s still going to blow by Nicklaus’ 18 majors, the only record that matters in golf.

You don’t think Tiger is clutch? Take another look at that par putt he made on 17 to give himself a chance to force Angel Cabrera into a playoff by going for birdie on the toughest hole at Oakmont (No. 18). Or look at his putt on 15.

Woods showed plenty of steel nerves, as always, Sunday. He was playing another ridiculous USGA setup that turned another major into a dartboard toss and he still gave himself a chance on the 72nd hole. That’s as clutch as it gets.

Don’t forget to check out BTuck’s on-site reporting of the final round on the front of WorldGolf.com. No one’s given you more complete coverage of this Open than Tuck, even if he seems to be campaigning for his own blue blazer with his insane Goldilocks and The Three Bears claim that Oakmont was “just right.”.

For Tim McDonald’s upcoming predictably offbase blog on how Tiger Woods cannot close, stay tuned to TravelGolf.com Monday morning.

For the best golf on the planet - and the most clutch athlete in the universe - keep your eyes on Tiger.

Everyone might want to take a look at Tiger’s finishes in the last four majors too: First, first, second, second. Yeah, this guy has trouble closing. About as much trouble as Wilt Chamberlain had getting a date.

« Tiger Woods handles his baby's birth with class, rather than Phil Mickelson crass

USGA desperately needs Tiger Woods to win U.S. Open to validate ridiculous setup at Oakmont »

15 comments

§ Booger said on : 2007-06-18 @ 07:07
I guess you didn't see his short birdie
miss with a few holes to play? He choked
all over that one, and that's why we
aren't seeing a playoff today.
§ Alex said on : 2007-06-18 @ 07:29
Booger,

I've got to agree with Chris on this one with everything but that Woods is going to blow by Jack's majors record.

Woods may never win another major,but it won't be for lack of trying.

Booger, every missed putt is not the result of "choking."

Many people, possibly you among them, don't like Tiger Woods. Many see him as haughty, arrogant and condescending.

In my opinion, he knows he is good and he doesn't mind showing it.

But love him or hate him, he is the best in the world today and he has been for quite a while.

He is also the consummate grinder, which is why he is usually in contention.

Remember, nobody wins them all.
§ 2under said on : 2007-06-18 @ 08:51
So I guess all of those par putts Tiger made down the stretch to keep himself in the championship don't reflect his competitiveness? Is that right, Booger?
§ Stanley said on : 2007-06-18 @ 09:40
Chris: He was playing another ridiculous USGA setup that turned another major into a dartboard toss and he still gave himself a chance on the 72nd hole. That's as clutch as it gets.
_____________________________

No, as clutch as it gets would have been giving himself a better birdie chance on 18 and knocking it in.

He also missed a green on one of the closing holes with a wedge in his hand. He may have got up and down for par, but he really should have been giving himself a birdie putt with a wedge in his hand.

Tiger just isn't as good as he used to be in those situations. He is still the best player of course, but he is losing that sense of invincibility.

Furthermore, Tiger pretty much lost a 3rd round lead in a major for the first time. Sure he had one player ahead of him, but that player was out of it right from the beginning. He was a non-factor in it. He started going backwards from the start, so Tiger was pretty much the one who had the lead.
For the 2nd major straight, someone came from behind Tiger in the 4th round of a major to pass him and win it.
§ Jim C said on : 2007-06-18 @ 10:56
Here is an interesting fact. On the ladies' side prior to this year, Annika had 4 or more wins 8 times, and 3 or fewer wins 5 times. She also won 3 US Womens' Opens--all of them in the 5 years when she had 3 or fewer wins. Makes one wonder about the people who are setting up these courses.
§ Jim C said on : 2007-06-18 @ 12:17
On that course, play for birdies and you lose big. You have to play for pars and hope luck favors you with a few birdies. A pretty fair measure of clutch play Sunday would be the number of holes at par or better. Tiger's 16 holes at par or better was extremely impressive.
§ putt4par said on : 2007-06-18 @ 20:41
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Booger,

I've got to agree with Chris on this one with everything but that Woods is going to blow by Jack's majors record.

Au contraire, Lambchops, mon amie... I hesitate to disagree with your vast knowledge of stuff golf, but I must agree with Mr. Baldwin on this point.
You might as well consider Jacks records shattered already.
§ davie said on : 2007-06-18 @ 21:22
I think we are forgetting something very basic here. The lowest score wins. Tiger can be beaten, he will get beaten alot more in the future. Just as Jack did. No one guaranteed Tiger that he would win the Open. When Tiger gets beaten, you are all SO shocked! Angel who?
How about a story about THE winner?
§ Ron Mon® said on : 2007-06-18 @ 22:18
Well, with Tiger versus the rest of the field, I like the odds of Mr. Rest-Field. There will always be a Cabrera, there will always be an Ogilvy. AS Tiger the golfer matures, Tiger the human/man experiences new things (death of the father, birth of the child, wedding.) Take a look at the next five Opens...like Tiger's chances?
§ putt4par said on : 2007-06-18 @ 23:02
I like Tigers chances very much but watching the Baddelly's and the Casey's of the world , chase him, gives cause to wonder how difficult they'll make it for him.
Nah, I still like his chances.
§ putt4par said on : 2007-06-18 @ 23:16
Well, with the birth of a little girl, daddy Woods might slow down a bit, but not much.
§ Rick Montenegro said on : 2007-06-19 @ 20:42
How many times has Tiger won a major coming from behind on day 4?

How many times has Tiger won a major going into day four with the lead?

I believe the answer to one of those is 0% and the other is 100%.
§ Joe Cool said on : 2007-06-19 @ 22:44
Tiger made $100,000,000 last year and the bloggers are treating him like he is a bum!
§ Gilly said on : 2007-06-20 @ 18:23
Tiger's good, but he ain't no closer when he's down even 1 stinking stroke in a major? C'mon. He never pulls those off now does he...but I gotta say, his round on Saturday was a be-u-tee-ful thing to watch.
§ JR said on : 2007-06-23 @ 22:26
Best of ALL TIME???? how can you say that? He is the best in the world now and for his generation but I dont believe he is better than Nicklaus or Snead. Once Tiger retires from the tour, then we can consider him for the title, "Best Ever". until then, it will be Nicklaus.