Tiger and Putting

“Putts get real difficult the day they hand out the money”. - Lee Trevino

Tiger Woods

Putting is one of the most individual elements in golf. Once on the green how anyone gets the ball into the hole in one, two, or more putts, is one of the most joyous or horrendous experiences one could have in a round of golf. You may not be playing for money, it may only be for pride, but the amateur and the professional, both have the desire to get the ball into the hole in the least number of strokes. A short 6-inch putt has the same value on the scorecard as a magnificent drive, being belted 300 yards down the fairway. Some would say it is one of the absurdities of this ridiculous sport. 

Growing up, back in the 1960s and 1970s, in our part of the world of non-golfers, golf was not even considered a sport. Golf was considered too sedentary and thought only suitable for old men. Even the impact of the big 3 of that era, Jack Niklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, didn’t change our perspective. Putting was compared to bowls, roll it and hope it hits a target. 

Our perspective changed big time, when the great Tiger Woods, came along. Tall, young, athletic, gifted and black – Nina Simone would have been proud of him. In the USA people knew of Tiger from an incredibly early age, thanks to ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’. As a teenager, Tiger drew big audiences to his amateur tournaments. Although well known in his nation all his life, our circle wasn’t aware of Tiger until he started making headlines and appearing on our tv screens, mid 1990s.

Over time, our circle came to understand the magnificent amateur career Tiger had. Winning the US Junior Amateur three years in a row, then following that up with the next three years as the US Amateur Champion. Six years in a row from 1991 to 1996, Tiger was all conquering in every major amateur tournament. Then unbelievably in 1997, as a professional Tiger wins the Masters by a margin of 12 strokes. 1997 continued to be special, at the age of 21, Tiger is officially ranked the number one golfer on the planet. The 1990s belonged to Tiger Woods.

In 2001 I was fortunate enough to see Tiger Woods play in our country with his caddy at the time, New Zealander Steve Williams. The same year Tiger won the Masters again and became the only man in history to hold all four major titles at once.

I admit this blog was intended to be about putting in general, but as thoughts flowed it turned into a tribute to the great Tiger Woods. It’s as good a time as any, to acknowledge his magnificence and the big impact he has had on our great sport, even if I call it ridiculous at times. Beyond golf, Tiger Woods is known by somebody in every part of the world. Like Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods will be remembered long after he has passed.

Lee Trevino was not wrong. We will talk about that another day.