I would assume the greatest competitor of our time wanted to win this major.
Maybe, he should have become a golf writer, that way he would have known the outcome before he left.

Mistake 1: never assume anything.

Mistake 2: Golf writers cannot know the outcome of tournaments beforehand. However, they are paid to comment on the outcome of said tournaments.

Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at 4-under par. Thomas Bjorn finished second at 3-under par. The tournament has been completed for over a week, and Tiger has gone on to win the NEC World Championship at Firestone. So, what is the significance of the continuous stupid commentary on the "what if's" of Tiger recognizing the professional efficiency of his peers. Face the fact that Tiger was right again, and you pontificators continue to wallow in the "what if's". Get over it...move on!!!

Re: "Mistake 1: never assume anything"
Tim are you saying Tiger did not want to win his 11th major?
I would ASSUME he did.

OK

Tiger Woods IS well on his way to becoming the greatest golfer ever, there's just no denying that. But he is also the most arrogant, classless,and inconsiderate a**hole to ever play the game. He makes a horrible role model for todays' youth with his uncontrollable and incessant cursing, spitting and other childish antics. His defenders say "Well, he's still young, he'll outgrow it." Get real, he's THIRTY years old and should be acting like a responsible adult instead of the spoiled brat that he is...never worked a day in his life. Because of his physical talents, people tend to dismiss or deny his inappropriate behavior. He does not represent the 'gentlemen's game' well at all. Call me jealous or immature, but I absolutely LOVE it when he loses! Long live Arnie, Jack and Gary! Now THOSE gentlemen have CLASS!!!
(source: Ben Hog-end)

I don't understand how Tiger's actions are considered a "bailout." He took a calculated risk in order to be ready for the next tournament. It paid off for him that he left early. He was able to get off to a good start at the NEC because he left when he did. If the rest of the field would have slipped, and Tiger was back in the mix for a playoff, he would have been disqualified. Even Tiger would not have been protected from that. He would have been furious, too. Mad enough to blow the NEC.

Tony, you are so off the mark regarding Tiger, it's incredible. Tiger is TREMENDOUSLY popular among other players, unlike Phil Mickelson who is almost universally regarded by his peers as arrogant and fake. Tiger doesn't do anything any other pro does on the course, he is just singled out. Hmmmmm, I wonder why? Hell yes, you ARE jealous and immature.

So Tom..let me get this straight...If Tiger doesn't show up for the NEC until Tuesday he doesn't win? He's played the course many times....so he had to get used to the range? Tiger would have furius? At whom? Certainly not himself.....perhaps he could have hired someone to share the guilt.
Does anyone out there really think Hogan, Nelson, Palmer, Watson, Trevino, Nicklaus, Els, or any other player with more than a commercial respect for the game would have left?

You are much better off in your little "Tiger-can-do-no-wrong" fantasy world. No doubt it's a safer place for you to dream on. Sleep well!

Greg...
While I do tend to agree with you, it's unfortunate that you are forced to mention the name of 'Tiger' in the same breath with all of those TRUE GENTLEMEN of the game. Not only will he leave his mark on golf, he'll surely leave several mars.

A little OT, but you folks have selective memories (or faded memories - whichever). Jack was known to get pretty pissy on the golf course himself. And (as another pointed out) John Daly gets downright scary sometimes with his rants. Yet when Tiger does it, its a black eye on golf. Get serious. The only reason we can find golf on every major tv channel each week is because of the guy. He is indeed the best golfer ever, even if its going to take his retirement from the sport for everyone to acknowledge it. Relax, and enjoy.

I am constantly amazed at the number of people who proclaim Tiger Woods is the "greatest golfer ever." In fact, he is not. There is no rationale for making that judgement. He is the best right now, but he has a long way to go before he catches up with Nicklaus' record in the majors.

He may do that and he may not. There are any number of things that could happen before he does catch Nicklaus. When he does surpass him, we can all hold hands and chant Tiger's the best ever.

Tim and James are bang on . As said before Tiger is still kidding you lot that he is as good as ever when his driving is still way off . He cant keep getting lucky breaks in the trees like at the N.E.C and besides he use to destroy fields but not any more .
James is bang on about Phil who really is the most irritating, smug ,false (how many smiles after bogeys ! ) know it all golfer ever to grace the game . Just wish there were more yanks like Couples , Love and Faxon , all with a little less ego and more genuine .

Hey guys! it is almost impossible to hit that little ball over 300 yards and keep it out of the rough. If Tiger give up some lenght then you will know if he is that good. Most platers on the PGA will tell you that Tiger is a good lad. The players who don't like Tiger just don't care to mix with blacks period.

Tony...I have no doubt that Woods deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Hogan, Jones, et al. He and Jones, for my money, are the two most creative and accomplished short game players in history. This is not a question of talent or accomplishment...it is one of judgement and ethic. Because Ivory seems to believe that only some racial agenda underlies my point (and others) I would like to point out that there is NO DOUBT
Lee Elder, Jim Thorpe or Charles Sifford would have stayed near Baltusrol til hell froze over for the chance to play for the right to be called Champion.
I also don't consider this a trivial defect in Tiger...it goes to the heart of a misunderstanding on his part about what he owes the game and what it owes him. It may mark him at the end of the day as an enormously talented, yet shallow man who made no real impact on the game. If anyone wants to debate that...bring it on.

Hi greg! Tiger is making an impact on the game. I an sure that he really thought he had no chance of winning. Do anyone think that Tiger would have given up a chance to win three majors for the year? Personally, I love Tiger, but it was pure luck that he got that far [ 2 under ].