Bay Hill Roundup

Tiger Winning It Vs. O'Hair Losing It

While I agree that O'Hair only hit a few good shots all day, to say he gave it away is missing the point.

• Tiger shot the 2nd best score of the day - while in the final group...on Sunday...again.
• I know you all know this, but Tiger hasn't been in the hunt since last June.
• He didn't birdie either par 5 and still shot 67 (par 70).
• He had THREE buried lies in bunkers...and all three were under the LIP! Most mortals couldn't have gotten all 3 out, let alone anywhere within 20 feet.
• Give me a break with the putts he made on 14 (par), 15 (birdie) and 18 (birdie). Oh, and he got up and down for par on 16 from 100 yards or so.
• O' Hair played the last 11 holes in +1 on a not so easy course. This is hardly handing it to Tiger. I know..the ball in the water at #16 - he still got up and down for bogey. Admittedly, that did hurt badly.
• Let's not forget the 2 putts Tiger made on Saturday on #16 and #18 for BOGEY...that got him into the final group.
  

I hate to admit this (since I am a huge Nicklaus fan and want to see these guys actually stare Tiger down and beat him), but I was rooting for Tiger to win this thing. Sure, I had him on my team (in one league this week), but honestly, this guy is out of control amazing with the putts he has made on the last hole of tournaments the last 18 months. I jumped off the couch and started yelling "That is just ridiculous! How can anyone make all these putts!"

Here are some thoughts on a macro level:

• In this recession, Tiger is needed to help stave off the reduction of as many PGA tournaments as possible for those of us who love golf.
• The Bay Hill ratings were up 23% from last year and they were the highest ratings since the U.S. Open. No surprise really.
• NBC stayed with the golf 2 hours past their planned time. Sure, if it was a battle between O' Hair and Z. Johnson, they may have punted to the Golf Channel but as golf fans, this is great for us.
• The anticipation is palpable for a Phil / Tiger match-up down the stretch at the Masters. I have to believe the green jackets will do everything in their course set-up as possible to make sure they get an exciting Sunday finish after the last few years.
• I just can't believe how many amazing finishes Tiger has now delivered. I mean, it's other-worldly. I have no more words to describe it.