Major Disappointment for Tiger Woods!

The news comes as not all that shocking...having watched Tiger Woods battle incredible pain with every shot last weekend winning over Rocco Mediate after a grueling 91 holes of professional golf—on a very tough course!

If the additional damage he did ends up costing him more than the rest of 2008, then one has to ask was it worth the win. I know from a spectator’s perspective it was definitely worth watching!

Right now, at age 33 years old, Woods stands at fourteen Majors, and sixty-five wins on the PGA Tour. Only a total loss-of-use of his legs will likely prevent him from surpassing Jack Nicklaus's eighteen Major’s, and eventually Sam Sneed at Eighty Two PGA wins.

It is sad that we won’t have Tiger to watch the rest of this season, including the Ryder Cup (maybe Rocco Mediate could stand in for him).

While nobody on the PGA Tour, nor fans of the game, wish to see Tiger hurt, I am sure there is a renewed sense of competition between all professional touring players. A BIG obstacle is out of the way for the remainder of the 2008 golf season.

For those who missed what some have called the greatest US Open, the Golf Channel will replay a two-hour condensed version tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

Rest up for next year Tiger…Your work is not finished yet.

The Gotta-Grip Team

Greatest US Open Ever? 2008 Certainly in Contention!

For my money, this has to be among (if not THE) best US Open ever played. I will leave to those who know golf much better than I to make detailed comparisons; however, what could have been more exciting than the FIVE days of professional golf at Torrey Pines Golf Course (a public course).

As we in the Midwest are battling what is being called the 500-year flood (in some parts), professional golfers Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate competed in what could be termed The 50-Year Golf Match, & easily is the match of this century so far.

Mediate deserves a trophy for second place for his showing at this tournament, and perhaps that will come in the form of vaulting his ranking (157th prior to this event) to somewhere more towards the #1 position held by Woods who barely scratched out the win on his shaky knee. There was immediate talk of a spot on the Ryder Cup team for Rocco.

I think the way the gallery and public took to Rocco will bode well for commercial endorsements as he embarks on the rest of the 2008 season.

Yes, Tiger was in bad shape, just coming off knee surgery, and yes he answered every great shot with two of his own, but you have to also hand it to Mediate (12 years senior to Woods), who himself had back surgery. Anyone who has ever had lower back or knee problems might have been extra impressed that these two lasted 91 holes—period!

As Tiger said in the post game interview, "I am just glad it's over...I am DONE for a while".

Since this historic battle took place at a public course…open to all, maybe the best way to appreciate how good these guys are, and why the likes of Mickelson, Els, Garcia, et al, came up short—would be to play there some time.

It would have indeed been great to see someone win their first Major at 45 years old, which would have also made Rocco the oldest to win the US Open, but I'll bet this showing put a little "gas in his tank" and we've not seen the last of him this year.

What a country!

The Gotta-Grip Team

Kenny Perry knows Jack!

Kenny Perry became one of only two to win Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial Golf Tournament three times this past weekend. It is safe to say that the first two tournaments were not coincidence, and he joins Tiger Woods (who won three years in a row), in displaying three coveted trophies from this prestigious event found by Jack Nicklaus. Perry also won in 1991, and 2003.

Back in 1976, Jack’s idea of an “Augusta style” event took shape after years in the making. With but three goals in mind, began the annual event at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The first goal was to have an event that would attract the best players in the world (only 75 of the previous year’s earners are invited); next was to host in his hometown area where his love of the game learned at a young age would be well represented. Third, to use a portion of the proceeds to benefit worthy charities.

Currently, the main beneficiary of The Memorial is the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, having received millions in donations from the tournament founded by Nicklaus on the course he co-designed. This was, incidentally, the first golf course built for both player and spectator alike with its “amphitheater” viewing. What Jack developed, along with land planner Desmond Muirhead, was nothing less than a spectacular golf setting in Dublin OH, dubbed #17 on the top-100 courses in America by Golf Digest.

Kenny Perry may have not only solidified his chance to get on the Ryder Cup team by repeating what was his first win on the PGA Tour, but also has to some degree followed in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus by finding ways to give back, and promote the sport of golf.

While their approaches differed slightly Kenny Perry also built a golf course, (Country Creek), in 1995. Country Creek caters to the average, to high handicapper. Green’s fees are daily fee, in the $30 range; however, both his, and Jack Nicklaus’s intent are in lock step, i.e., giving something back to the community, and giving something back to the game of golf they both took up as young boys.

PGA Tour win number eleven must have indeed been as sweet as "number one" for Kenny Perry, but just with another ONE on the end.

Congratulations!


From Gotta-Grip