2008 US Open – The Grades
Posted by Coach on June 17, 2008
What an amazing tournament. The grades…
Tiger Woods – A
It says a lot about the current state of the internet (and media in general, I suppose) that for as many people who praise Tiger for playing through the pain, there are at least as many calling bullshit. It’s trendy to be bitter and cynical and play the devil’s advocate. I’ll be the first to admit, Tiger has a flair for the overly dramatic. And I don’t just mean canning putts on the 18th hole. When he gets sand in his eyes after a bunker shot, he acts as if he’s been maced. When he needs to hit a big draw or cut, his finish is comically exaggerated. When he misses a putt, even early in a tournament, his knees buckle and he grimaces. And so it came to pass at Torrey Pines. Before he got his pain meds figured out halfway through Sunday’s round, he was doubled over half the time. Was he in pain? Of course. Probably a lot. Would someone else in the same situation have reacted the same way? Hard to say, but I don’t think anyone else would have been more theatric. What gets lost in all these discussions is that he won the US Open. Forget his knee. He won. Tiger himself stated people play in pain all the time and his pain is no worse than anyone else’s. Remember the crazy putts he made. Remember the shorter putts he had to make. Remember how quickly he made you forget about Lee Westwood. Mostly, though, take this away: Tiger Woods won the 2008 US Open for his 14th career major at the age of 32.
Rocco Mediate – A
Speaking of cynical, I was skeptical of Rocco’s act. After watching him handle himself on the course and in interviews over the past three days, I bought in. Sure, he’s a little annoying. The happy go lucky, over the hill, paunchy, fast playing thing got beat to death – and it’s not completely his fault. Unlike other sports, golf suffers from a lack of distinguishing characters. When someone doesn’t act like Davis Love, he is likened to Hunter S. Thompson. Case in point: Woody Austin. Bend a putter over your head, say Tiger is human, and fall in a pond (over the course of 11 years) and all of a sudden you’re a raving lunatic. Anyway, Rocco played out of his mind. His putt on 15 in the playoff after Tiger hit that inhuman fairway bunker shot should be considered the best punch ever thrown at Tiger. Bigger than May canning that putt on 18 at Valhalla. The course set up couldn’t have been any better for him on Sunday and Monday. Add 400 yards, which they could have, and the tournament would have ended Sunday. Rocco fits the mold of the best Tiger challengers through the years. It’s interesting that the guys (Bob May, Chris DiMarco, Rocco) who supposedly have no business playing the same tees as Tiger are the ones to give him the most trouble.
Phil Mickelson – C-
You can want something too much – and Mickelson did. It’s hard to win a golf tournament on the longest course played in major championship history without a driver the first two rounds. Regardless of what all the sycophants say, he doesn’t need that many wedges. He just doesn’t. You can open or close a club face. Especially when you’re one of the two best players in the world. It’s hard to knock a hall of famer who has won 34 tournaments and three majors before the age of 40. But he’s just so unbelievably full of shit. He begs to be questioned. He’s either playing two drivers or no drivers or seven wedges or predicting the Superbowl winner in August or growing a full inch at the age of 38. Is Mickelson ever going to win a US Open?
Torrey Pines – A-
The USGA went easy on ‘em. Or easier, anyway. I thought it could have played more difficult on Sunday and/or Monday. There were loads of red numbers on Sunday, however very few among the contenders. I thought the 14th was a joke Sunday and Monday. I like a driveable par 4 as much as the next guy. But 267 yards? That’s a bunt three wood for most of these guys. Overall it was a great test. They won’t say it, but the USGA’s goal is to have the winner post Even for four days. They missed by a shot. Not bad.
Tiger’s Knee – C
I’ve had two surgeries on my left knee due to cartilage issues. The first time I had the microfracture procedure - same as Greg Oden and Amare Stoudamaire. They drill holes in the problem area on your knee to encourage blood flow which, ideally, turns to scar tissue and acts as a cartilage substitute. This is invasive and takes six or seven months to rehab and get back to normal. You’re not guaranteed anything - cartilage issues are a real bitch – they don’t go away. There’s no blood flow, it doesn’t grow. I’ve also had a simple scope. Which is what Tiger claims to have had – I was walking without crutches 24 hours after the procedure – played golf a week after that. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m in better shape and more mentally tough than Tiger (and we’re about the same age), so I’ll spot him a few days. But I do know this: Tiger did not just have a scope nine weeks ago. He didn’t have microfracture or carticel (where they harverst cartilage and grow it in a lab and put it back in your knee – that rehab is more extensive than microfracture) because that would have cost him the rest of the year. He’s obviously experiencing some serious problems with that knee. Did he do permanent damage this weekend? Nah. He surely delayed his recovery period. I’m guessing the doctors will tell him running five miles a day is about the worst thing he can do for it. He’ll start riding a bike pretty soon. Probably with Lance Armstrong. Unless technology finds a cure, Tiger will deal with pain in that left knee for the rest of his playing career. It does not bode well for his longevity. His appearances will dwindle even more. A different way to let the legend grow, I suppose.
