The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Category: Tiger Woods (page 1 of 2)

Nike Makes Bad Call on Tiger Commercial

April 8, 2010 / / 11 Comments

Yes, Nike’s foible spurred me to write before Tiger’s did. I’m more forgiving of human flaws and mistakes than corporations trying to make a buck off them. Of course this wouldn’t have been possible without Tiger’s reprehensible behavior, and if he had anything to do with this ad other than that, I blame him for it as well. Either way, I’m in no way expressing sympathy for Tiger because of this ad.

I’ve been quiet on everything lately. Even the Tiger “scandal” couldn’t draw me out to discuss my thoughts, of which I have plenty, I assure you. Then, just as I’m getting ready to share my thoughts on that as well as the Masters and everything else, out pops Nike’s controversial Tiger advertisement that seems to depict Earl Woods, Tiger’s deceased father, asking his son questions about Tiger’s intentions and moral charactertiger woods nike ad that, of course, Tiger never answers because they were completely out of context. Distasteful? Opportunistic? I think so. And if Tiger actually posed for this current ad wearing his Nike garb rather than Nike taking it upon themselves to use past images, that’s disgusting as well. (Not that Tiger doesn’t have disgusting in him.) Throughout Tiger’s troubles, Nike was one sponsor that stuck by him. Now Nike is trying to rebuild their Tiger-related image after all they already have, and plan to continue to, invest in him – I get that.

The Honest Review I Hate to Give

Truth be told, I’m actually a pretty big fan of Nike Golf products. For a long time I have enjoyed their golf balls. Plus, awhile back, they were kind enough to send me their VR STR8-FIT Tour Driver to review it against the TaylorMade competitor and simply asked for an honest review. It was still on my list of things to do because not only do I owe them some feedback (which would have been positive for them) but I felt compelled to give them any mention at all in this blog for the beneficial impact it had on my game. Here you go, Nike: you replaced TaylorMade in my bag in the driver section. Club vs. club, you win. The review would have been much longer and much more glowing had you not blown it with this Tiger thing (or had I done it sooner – but then I surely would have referenced back on it in this post). Here’s your bone – if I had a better driver, I’d gladly use. Sadly, I’m wont for better gear even though it pains me to say so. I truly wish I didn’t like it as much as I did. My TaylorMade driver practically screams to me to get back in my bag and the way I’m playing I’m tempted to listen especially since my game and swing suck so much lately it really doesn’t matter what club(s) I use.

Now What?

Now that Nike put such a sour taste in my mouth with this Tiger thing, I really wish everyone would stop buying Nike products, no matter how much you like them. At least until they do something to redeem themselves after “THE TIGER AD.” Strong stance, I know, especially from someone who has been dormant for so long and benefited from Nike’s generosity. Tell you what: if I don’t see some redemptive ad in the next few days (they’re bound to have follow-ups during the Masters this week and I’ll let you know how I feel), my old driver is going back in my bag.

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Happy New Year From The Golf Chick-munk

January 1, 2010 / / 8 Comments

Once in a blue moon I opt out of any social New Year’s Eve celebration. The universe provided the blue moon so here we are – just me, my loving doggy and some quality quiet time with the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 on the Wii. (Yes, I can still type – and say – that name without spitting. Perhaps there will be more on that in a later post.)

My “decision” to opt out for this blue moon celebration may have been aided by my recent oral surgery, sutures, antibiotics, vicodin and chipmunk cheeks, but who cares? It was a crap year and I’m kicking it out my own way. I even gave my Wii avatar her own golfchick-munk cheeks so she can play along.

As you can see from the picture, “I” am proudly sporting an Odyssey visor as they were kind enough to step up and be my first sponsor as I attempt to make the PGA Tour in the game. Etonic also sponsored me but I can’t seem to find any of their products to endorse in the system. Oh yes, fun times for me this new year’s eve.

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones all the best for the coming new year, new decade and a safe celebration to ring it in. Be well, be happy and may they all roll true.

Kristen

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Can I Get a Ruling?

April 9, 2009 / / 20 Comments

Should Tiger have incurred a two stroke penalty on the 13th hole in the first round at The Masters?

Tiger Woods, Jeev Milkha Singh and Stewart Cink all landed the 13th green in two on day one at Augusta. Tiger and Stewart both missed their eagle putts. Tiger walked up to his ball, marked and lifted it, then looked around for Jeev. After getting Jeev’s attention, Tiger pointed at his own marker as if to ask “is that in your way?” Indeed, he ended up moving his marker off the line and Jeev made his eagle. So the question is:

Did Tiger give advice to Jeev by indicating the line of the putt? The USGA defines advice as: any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke. The penalty for a breach of either rule 8-1 or 8-2 is two strokes.

Any rules wizards out there? I’m not trying to be a narc, I just like to understand the rules as best I can.

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Tiger Woods out for the Season, PGA stock plummets

June 18, 2008 / / 1 Comment

Tiger’s taking his ball (and US Open trophy) and going home. For the rest of the year.

Stress fractures of the tibia, a torn ligament, and his upcoming ACL surgery have the world’s number one hobbling away with his winnings to recover for the rest of the year. I hope he has a good disability plan, because how can someone afford to just take that much time off?

The LPGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours should prepare for scattered viewers. After Tiger’s competition against Rocco in one of the best golf tournaments ever, regular PGA Tour events are going to just seem like … golf. And we get that on the other tours. Yes, we’ll miss Tiger but it will be fun to watch other golf for the rest of the summer in His absence. Maybe towards the end of the season with Tiger far enough away in our rearview mirrors, the events will even seem exciting. There is certainly potential for a lot of drama and excitement from the women.

Oh but first we have to get past all the press coverage and speculation about how the injuries affected his play at the US Open, and how he’ll be when he finally returns. I’m sure once it hits in earnest, it will spiral out of control for awhile, so I’m bracing myself and am prepared to play through it.

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Now that’s entertainment! (and other US Open thoughts)

June 17, 2008 / / 0 Comments

If you missed the US Open, you missed some of the best golf ever televised. It was incredible. Almost literally. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought it was rigged to script the drama. I guess it’s conceivable that Tiger could aim for an adjacent hole’s bunker knowing he could execute the amazing recovery shot. He could even have been paid to make it close and have missed a few putts on purpose knowing he’d win in the end. He could even wince in agony and magically recover in order to secure a few more million dollars a year from an Aleve endorsement all while lending credibility to his human persona. But did the USGA really collude with Aleve and Tiger’s creators to concoct this “competitive tournament?” Nahh… it all happens behind the scenes in Tiger’s camp, and the script began back when he had his work done. The USGA, the PGA Tour and the golf industry as a whole are simply lucky beneficiaries of Tiger’s placement here on Earth. Not to mention the fans.

The USGA did an amazing job of setting up the course to play exactly to par for the best of field. We all know that doesn’t include Tiger. He just played up to it for his own agenda which happens to make for highly entertaining golf.

tiger woods rocco mediate us openAll is right with the Universe

The Monday playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate was stellar. I bit off all my nails just watching and had putting butterflies as though I were playing and not safely home on my couch. As much as I love Tiger, my appreciation of him is for his dominance. I know some people would root against him for that reason and a lot of people rooted for Rocco because of his underdog status and his outright affability. I don’t think I’m alone that I was rooting for both of them – many of us simply wanted a good show (as Rocco said), and the players certainly delivered.

I wanted Rocco to win, but I needed Tiger to win to reassure me that the Universe was still on course. That the Earth will stay on its axis. As I rooted for Rocco, I worried about what life on Earth would be like if he won.

It was the most compelling round of golf I’ve personally ever watched. Wasn’t it fun to watch just two guys play every shot on every hole and to have it be so close? I was riveted – no skipping ahead through holes on my DVR. Every shot and every word (from the players) had to be seen and heard.

On Sunday, I was really rooting for a three person playoff. I would have loved to see Lee Westwood in there as well. My heart sank when he didn’t make it. Would it have been as entertaining as the underdog vs. number one head-on duel? We’ll never know.

The unwitting pool boy

Pool boys are known for their sex appeal. I’m guessing Rocco never really has been, what with his funny body and funny smile, but I’m also guessing that just changed for a lot of female golf fans (and maybe Johnny Miller as well). Perhaps it’s simply Rocco’s easy demeanor that makes him a pool boy in Johnny’s eyes, but for me, his sexy quotient was elevated to pool boy status by his amazing golf and how he competed with the best, had him on the ropes and fought it out to the finish.

Random thoughts:

Could a non-golfer ever truly appreciate just how great Tiger Woods is? Before I took up golf, I know I didn’t.

If Elin hadn’t dressed like Rocco on Monday, would the round have been a blowout?

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The Kids are Alright

May 6, 2008 / / 1 Comment

paula creamer semgroup champIf Lorena falls into the Tiger Woods category, she certainly didn’t let it show this week while Paula Creamer stomped her down at the SemGroup Championship. The 21-year old “pink panther” held off the would-be-record-breaking five-time LPGA winner from claiming that glory at Cedar Ridge Country Club. I doubt anyone who is a serious follower of the LPGA world discounted Paula Creamer from being a contender, but lately Lorena Ochoa has been Tiger-like in her dominance. If Annika can’t stop her, maybe Paula can. She did this week at least.

Meanwhile, another youngster gave the field a Tiger bashing (in Tiger’s knee procedure absence) with a 5 stroke win at the Wachovia Championship. He’s 22 years old, many eyes have been on him, and he finally has his first PGA win – with serious authority. His name is Anthony Kim, and you better believe he’s not a fluke winner. Put this kid on your fantasy team if you have one. Adam Scott may be hotter, but I think this kid’s a more threatening competitor when it comes to golf. Look out, men!

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Tiger Woods has work done, Lorena Ochoa takes the spotlight

April 22, 2008 / / 4 Comments

Tiger’s website says he underwent “arthroscopic knee surgery” last week and will be out 4-6 weeks while he rehabilitates.

Translation (from internal memo):

Worn part #52a92J replaced in subject Gpr8#kl2. Actual time out of commission: 5.8 Earth minutes. Cover story issued to handlers. “Arthroscopic knee surgery” often requires 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation time in actual humans, therefore subject and handlers may use this as justification for not participating in several undesirable events as well as recent loss at the human revered “Masters.”

This “down time” and distraction allows us to focus on our internal reorganization and determine how best to assign our assets between subjects Gpr8#kl2 and Bw8^p4m. For those not previously involved in subject Bw8^p4m’s development and assimilation, we gave it a human female form with Mexican heritage and call it “Lorena Ochoa.” You will receive further information if you are transitioning to this case.

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Tiger Woods’ private conversation revealed!

March 18, 2008 / / 0 Comments

If you think that sounds like a tabloid headline, wait ’til you read the actual conversation “transcript.” I published it over at my Golf For Women blog. If you enjoy ridiculous (yet somehow plausible) Tiger Woods theories, you might want to check it out.

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Tiger’s Dominance Is All About His Mental Game

February 2, 2008 / / 3 Comments

Yes, it’s another post about Tiger Woods. I’m just so in awe.

I have always enjoyed rooting for underdogs when I don’t have a favorite player or team to support in any given contest. However, I also appreciate excellence. I love seeing Tiger dominate so thoroughly just as I want to see The Patriots win the Super Bowl and have the perfect season. I’d be happy to watch Tiger win every tournament he plays this year (and he sure looks like he could pull that off).

It just seems impossible for anyone to be so consistently good at a game with so many intricacies that he outplays his peers every time. It’s to the point that he doesn’t really have peers. He’s in a flight all his own. For anyone who has ever played this crazy game, Tiger’s performance is beyond impressive to the point that it’s almost unbelievable.

I contend that the difference between him and every other golfer in the world is purely mental. Any one of those guys on Tour can train with coaches, work hard and perfect their swings so they can execute most of the time. The difference is maintaining the mental state to execute it more frequently. And keep maintaining it on the putting green. Hole after hole, round after round, tournament after tournament. Only Tiger has shown he can do that.

Is it in our genes?

I have the ability to focus at times, but I know my nature and how easily distracted I can be. There’s only so much “zone” my brain will allow. So, is the ability to have that kind of mental game in our DNA? I think so. Oh, we can work on it and train our minds and improve, but I think our potential in this capacity is hardwired. The thing is, we don’t know what we’re capable of so we can just keep pushing and trying. And when we hit a wall, we can go get new equipment because there must be something else going on. (If we “upgrade” from the latest driver to the greatest driver and it helps, it’s probably a placebo effect anyway.) Oh, don’t you love this game?

Demonstrating how the USGA can play all the games it wants and it won’t bother him, Tiger recently commented on the meaninglessness of par (I agree). Talking about how the USGA makes changes to par for certain holes and tournaments, he said:

“The USGA just thrives on that … Par is just a number. What I mean by that is that Pebble could set up for a 72, and I would have been what, 16-under par? So under par doesn’t really matter that much. It’s just going out there and shooting a number.”

It’s just going out there and shooting a number, people! Sure, mine’s (way) above par and his is below. Eh… Par, shmar.

Anyway, I have to wonder what goes on in Tiger’s mind during a round. Not par. Not comments from wishful rivals. Is it the number? Certain swing thoughts? Is it like a chamber of silence?

Is it possible to be hyperbolic when discussing Tiger?

Is Tiger approaching a singularity to transcend even his own biological limitations? Someday, will there be a chip we can install in our brains that will allow us to do the same? Am I totally geeking out right now? Will I ever be able to write anything besides a question again? Is it time for a martini?

Tiger Woods Can’t Lose

January 26, 2008 / / 3 Comments

I think it’s clear that Tiger Woods is unstoppable, at least for the foreseeable future.

His remarkable combination of talent, drive and passion surpasses that of any other golfer in the world. As if that weren’t enough, it seems he has something else going for him as well. This month and this year, especially. According to one interpretation, anyway.

Starting today, Tiger has a powerful force in his corner. Just what the rest of the field needs, right? Here are some excerpts:

Tiger Woods Laughing Capricorn

Your January Horoscope by Susan Miller Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

“The year 2008 is just made for you!”
…
“Pluto is about to make a stunning move out of Sagittarius and into Capricorn on January 25” … “Pluto has the slowest orbit around the Sun and therefore spends the longest time in each sign and house of the zodiac. That allows Pluto to make a truly indelible impression as it travels through a house – in your case, your 1st house of personality and personal desires, determination, and dreams.”
…
“Others will admire your single-minded determination to succeed, for surely, Pluto will require an all-or-nothing approach from you. As a Capricorn, your motivation and ambition to succeed has always been high, but now it is about to become sharpened, focused, and intensified. Your ability to persuade others will become more effective too, for you won’t take “no” for an answer!” (emphasis mine)
…
“Were you born on December 28 or close to this date? You actually are in a perfect position to reap benefits galore.” (Tiger’s birthday is December 30.)

Did you notice the part about Pluto – I thought Pluto wasn’t a planet anymore – entering Capricorn today? Tiger shot a -7 (65) today at the Buick Invitational to take a 4 shot lead into the weekend at Torrey Pines.

Regardless of your opinion on horoscopes, there is no debating Tiger’s dominance in golf. Personally, I enjoy believing (the positive parts of) my horoscope. I find it fun. And as a Capricorn myself (January 4), I share Tiger’s stellar forecast and can tell you that my year is getting off to a fantastic and fortunate start! Now if only my golf game would show it.


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