Golf makes the mainstream news: Tiger & Bush

It’s a rare couple of weeks that sees golf-related stories getting attention in the non-sporting news world.

First, Tiger Woods was named by MEN’S FITNESS magazine as America’s Fittest Guy.

Then, President Bush stated (in an extremely awkward interview) that he had given up golf in some sort of display of solidarity with the troops in Iraq.

Now, the great thing about golf in my opinion is that it is one of the few professional sports that allow us regular folk to compare ourselves with the pros. Just as Tiger can nail a 40-foot putt, so can we (though far less often). Some of us can even pound the occasional 300-yard drive like the pros.

So let me indulge in a moment of self-comparison.

The Fittest Guy in America just announced that he won’t be playing The Memorial Tournament, which he’s won like 20 times already.

I, on the other hand, am no where near being considered the fittest guy on my block, much less America. Nevertheless, I routinely walk 18 holes carrying my own bag. I played softball the other night, and executed a smooth pop-up slide into third base under a tag, even. And I imagine there are countless equally unfit guys in America right now jogging, jumping, swimming, etc., etc.

Hmmm…..

OK, on to a smaller, easier target: President Bush.

By all accounts, golf is not a game W. has ever been any good at, nor does he particularly enjoy it.

In short, him giving up golf for “the families (of the troops)” is like me giving up doing laundry “for the troops.”

Like I say, golf lets us regular folk compare ourselves to both our heroes and our goats. And sometimes, those comparisons even make us feel a little better about our game:

“Heck. I could do that!”