Did the Tiger Woods golf era end on PGA Championship Sunday?

After receiving an encouraging tweet in the aftermath of the 93rd PGA Championship where Keegan Bradley charged from behind to take glory's last stand from Jason Dufner, I wondered if Tiger Woods is needed anymore to stir interest in professional golf. My answer, "Golf will survive and thrive without Tiger in the game!"

 

 

A short conversation between @GolfSchott on Twitter and myself (@Golf4Beginners) after a sudden-death playoff on Sunday transpired as follows:

@GolfSchott: I would say this one would be considered memorable now as well. What a tourney!!

@Golf4Beginners: Playoff always good but memorable?

@GolfSchott: Absolutely, this is no ordinary playoff, this is a playoff in a Major!

Excitement and patriotic relief were measured hand-in-hand as Americans came in first and second and that a red-shirted, fresh-faced Keegan Bradley hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy; "relief" that there is finally someone on this side of the pond to challenge the ever gregarious and competitive golfers standing up to be counted in the world arena.

I watched intently as the playoff commenced with two relative unknowns taking center stage. There were center-cut drives, long, twisting putts dropping into the cup and fists a'pump with unabashed joy as the golfers walked as purposely as the once-great Tiger Woods did on major Sunday with fans cheering immeasurably as a hero was finally crowned.

This was not just one hero that the fans were cheering in my opinion, it was the game of golf that received the applause!

According to this opinion piece, Tiger Woods as we knew him is "dead". "He might still win, but the dominant force we loved to watch is gone." Woods can never be the person or champion that he once was; his true identity has been discovered, found out, ousted and doubt in his own ability has caused "rigor mortis" in his golf swing.

The fear which Tiger instilled in professional golfers when he was in the hunt has diminished and, at thirty-five, the mystique of how he was regularly in contention is being replaced with missed cuts and pack-like, mediocre play. Although the odds are good that Woods will win again, he will never again be known as a hero in the world of golf.

Thank goodness that the fans are finally willing to move on, for the game has been suffering along with Woods for the past several years, unable to pick up and move on. As of this PGA Championship where Tiger M/C'd with one of his worst major rounds, golf media and fans are finally welcoming change.

Yes, a new era is at hand. Whether Keegan Bradley or Jason Dufner will become "memorable" or win more events cannot be predicted but it is safe to say that the PGA Championship Sunday sudden-death playoff gave the game of golf a push in the right direction.

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photo credit: MSNBC

 

 

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Can new Nike golf shoes help transform Tiger Woods game?

Tiger Woods has been sporting new Nike golf shoes since his return to professional golf, according to the press release issued below.

It certainly didn't help transform his golf game last week at the WGC-Bridgestone, as we saw Woods finish in a tie for 37th position. As a matter of fact, the Post reported that Tiger's former caddie, Steve Williams, earned about 2.5 times as much as Woods!


Still, Golfweek mentioned that, despite Tiger Woods' yardage issues, he is hitting the ball flush and is ready for his close-up at the PGA Championship.


Well, since money isn't everything, perhaps comfort will be!

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Tiger Woods Debuts Prototype Shoe on Comeback

Tiger Woods has been working with one of the Directors within NIKE’s Innovation Kitchen, Tobie Hatfield, and NIKE Golf on a FREE-inspired prototype shoe that Tiger will wear during this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Originally developed in 2004 by a group led by Hatfield, NIKE FREE is a ‘natural motion’ technology that is designed to mimic and conform to the natural motion of the foot, coupled with the protection and traction of a lightweight performance shoe.

The FREE-inspired elements in this prototype model allow greater movement for the front of the foot, increasing stability with mobility. “This will help give Tiger greater stability as he addresses the ball. The freedom of movement that natural motion technology delivers will also allow more power to be released through the swing rather than through the body – which can happen when your feet are too static.” said Hatfield.

“I love the feel of NIKE FREE for training, so I asked Tobie if it was possible to bring that technology to the golf course. It’s exciting to see a conversation like that come to life and I look forward to wearing them this week,” added Tiger.

The majority of the upper consists of a polyurethane coated stretch fabric, also seen within the construction of NIKE Basketball’s Hyperfuse 2011. Part of the heel is created from recycled NIKE Air Max units melted into thread and then woven together to create a strong, breathable textile material. The FREE-inspired outsole is directly taken from NIKE Sportswear’s Special Field Boot designed for first-responders.

This model also has a half heel counter in both shoes to give more stability on the lateral side, particularly in follow through. The shoe also incorporates NIKE Flywire (first introduced in Beijing in 2008) attached to each lace loop, which when pulled tight envelope the foot for maximum comfort and stability.


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Former Tiger Woods caddie Steve Williams more popular than Adam Scott?

The "unwritten rule" of not talking to golf media was broken yesterday by former Tiger Woods caddie Steve Williams after yesterday's exciting win by his new boss, Adam Scott, at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Steve Williams was approached by David Feherty after the final round of the golf tournament and could have said something joyful about Adam Scott's win but instead commented on his own emotional high with an almost laughable countenance condemning his own dismissal by Tiger Woods.

Williams declared, "I've caddied for thirty-three years and one hundred forty-five wins and that's the best win I've ever had."

Steve must have forgotten the seven previous wins at this event carrying the bag for Tiger Woods, or did he? Was Tiger Woods a good boss or is Williams just spewing sour grapes?

"It's the greatest week of my life caddying and I sincerely mean that," Steve Williams concluded.

The gaffe was not taken lightly by former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger and other professional golfers. Zinger tweeted, "most (caddies) don't, a few do at times when appropriate." He added the hashtag #notapopularguy.

English golfer Chris Wood commented, "Steve Williams taken all the attention off Adam Scott's fantastic win! Played great and nobody is talking about him this morning!!!"

Tennis star Andy Roddick said, "Am I missing something? Was Steve the one actually playing?"

Williams speaks what is on his mind; he doesn't mince words. If the public didn't want to hear what he had to say, then Feherty should not have approached him. On the flip side, Steve probably should have politely turned his interview into praise for Adam Scott for giving him the opportunity.

Since Steve Williams received more shout-outs than Adam Scott heading onto the 18th green, shouldn't he at least been given the right to speak?

Adam Scott said it best, "He's a popular guy around here...It was fun to get support, whether it's for me or him, I don't care, it's the right team."

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photo credit: BusinessInsider.com

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