Golf fans jostle for a glimpse of Tiger's return

I've been privileged in the past to witness Tiger Woods out on a golf course. And I can tell you, it's a painful, frustrating process.
Not because the golf he produces isn't spectacular and at times utterly dazzling but it's the sheer volume of people he attracts that help convince me each and every time golf has to be one of the worst "out on the course" spectator sports going. That's just my opinion though.
Try telling that to the legions who got themselves to Arizona this week once they heard the world's top player was making his return to the game after more than eight months.
Woods' first competitive slice of action in the best part of a year wasn't due to get under way until around lunchtime here though judging by the fans already out on the course you'd have thought his tee-time was more like 7am. Even those jostling for position to catch a glimpse of him on the range or putting green were taking no chances and ensuring they arrived in plenty of time.
Remember all of this was before he even teed off!

The scene on that first hole was as expected bustling to say the least. The small gantries were packed anyway due to the whole array of talent on show through this week, but it got even more frenzied when the Woods-Jones match- up was announced.
Mayhem to say the least! Those seated in the stands were the lucky ones, it was the unfortunate spectators trying to stand and strain every sinew to catch a glance of that first shot from the world number one I felt for.
Even us media suffered! With seconds to go before the American struck his drive, one television camera crew, which really should have known better, blatantly blocked us from getting that prized shot. Only quick last-gasp thinking from our cameraman John saved the day.
In case you were wondering that Woods drive was just majestic and he would go on to win the first two holes in fine style.
When he strode off down the first fairway, there was a stampede with those looking to brave the soaring temperatures here in Arizona and follow him every step of the way. The Woods 'wow factor' is still very much alive and kicking. The question is will the so-called bionic knee hold up in the weeks and months to come?

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/golf/02/26/snell.tiger.golf/

Tiger Woods returns with a bang

Ever the resident of some sublime golfing planet with a population of one, Tiger Woods walked into a coronation Wednesday under the weird impression he'd come just to hit an advantageous tee shot.

"Mr. Woods has the honors; play away, please," said the starter, and beneath a high desert sun that could chafe an iguana, Woods stood over his first PGA Tour drive since June 16 at Torrey Pines in the U.S. Open, eight months and one day since surgeons reconstructed his left knee.He backed off once, stepped back up there, blasted the thing and gave the club that familiar twirl that seems to translate into satisfaction. It wound up 301 yards up ahead on the right edge of the fairway, and after all the speculation and all the anticipation and all the noise, he'd been focused on bunkers."I was just in my own little world," he said, "just trying to make sure that I knew what the number was to the bunker, where the wind was coming from, slightly off left, am I going to hit a flat three-wood, draw the ball, trying to decide what shot to hit."
Off in a flourish with a birdie and a conceded eagle on the first two holes, steady in the middle while losing only one hole on the front nine and thrilling near the finish with a 19-foot eagle putt from fringe on No. 13, he ensured his clamber toward fitness would get at least one more day at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, and that it would involve a second-round opponent he scorched 5 and 4 in the second round in 2007, South African Tim Clark.With that bout secured, Woods headed toward elevation and ice, his knee's two latest friends."I'm very pleased at how it felt all day," he said. "I thought that it would be more stiff" on the No. 15 tee, which he accessed only after a long sit because of a backup. "But it felt fine."It traveled the necessary 16 holes in the ligament heaven of Arizona, starting up the first fairway to an approach shot Woods would strike to within five feet. The defending champion and inveterate No. 1 golfer hurriedly went 2-up when his approach on No. 2 skied 236 yards and nestled in 5 1/2 feet from the cup, promising an eagle Jones would concede."His ball flight is different to pretty much everyone else's, and it was fun to see different trajectories that he hits the ball," said Jones, the world's No. 64 player and an eight-time winner on the Japan Tour who later added, "Yeah, he's Tiger, he does freakish stuff."Jones did hang in, halving four holes and then halving the deficit, winning No. 7 when Woods couldn't get up and down from in front of the green, but Woods countered on No. 8 with a seven-foot birdie, then won No. 12 when Jones burrowed in the green-side fringe, and No. 13 with that eagle.Down four holes with five to play, Jones did rise well above the road-kill level before Woods' closing 3 1/2 -foot par putt on par-three No. 16 called off the festivities and led Jones to say, "I was beaten by the best player on the planet. Three and two to Tiger Woods, I'm pretty happy with that."In a startling development, other players also played Wednesday, the event insisting on conducting 31 other first-round matches. Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas won easily, and Northern Ireland's 19-year-old Rory McIlroy, a winner this year in Dubai on the European Tour, also advanced. He could play Woods in the third round if he can win against Hunter Mahan today and then refrain from fainting on the first tee Friday as he meets his idol.Phil Mickelson steeled as he did at Riviera on Sunday to beat Angel Cabrera in 19 holes after losing holes 15 through 18, but Sergio Garcia, the world's No. 2 player debuting on U.S. soil in 2009, went out to South Africa's Charl Schwartzel by 1-up with a bogey on No. 18, and No. 3 Padraig Harrington was ousted by Pat Perez. Many players remarked about the slowness and undulation of the greens, which Villegas and Woods found unprecedented.To the teeming assemblage of reporters and the three-deep midweek galleries, though, all of that ran well below the radar of what Woods called a comeback "totally different" from his others because his surgery had been major.Certainly the hubbub around No. 1 had been totally different for a February in Arizona, even as a 301-yard drive had been just the same. "It really is just another shot," Woods said. "Just because I've taken time off and away from a competitive environment doesn't change the nature of how you execute a golf shot."Commotion all around, and the golfer who caused it barely realized? You might say Tiger Woods had returned.

Tiger's Return - The Video

Yeah, I know they made a video about Tiger Woods coming back, (tomorrow actually, by the time of writing this!)
A sweet clip about the party being over during the period that Tiger was away.
(Looks like it does not take much to get these guys into acts like this one)
A nice fun clip!

There must be a team of marketing and PR strategists at Nike Marketing, figuring, how to get extra mileage out of situations like these (and I must say they get excellent mileage).
And all these guys (including Tiger) must have a clause in their contracts, saying; they must put down what ever they are doing and coming running to make these TV commercials.
I'd come running too.

Welcome Back Tiger
We've Missed You!

Even Tiger Woods is curious how he will play

Tiger Woods has been on the golf course every day … practicing … playing … hitting his full array of shots without fear of pain shooting down his left leg or bones sliding out of place.
But when it comes to shots that he has to count …
“It’s one thing to do it in a practice environment at home against my buddies for a little cash,” Woods said Friday in his first interview about his comeback. “It’s a totally different deal to do it at a PGA Tour event against the best players in the world. I’m excited to get out there and experience that.
“I’m as curious as you.
“One of the great things coming back is my bones aren’t moving anymore. It’s a very comforting feeling hitting a golf ball without your bones sliding all over the place. That’s been very exciting to play that way, and I’m looking forward to the season.”
Woods said his knee has been ready for several weeks. He was awaiting the birth of his son, Charlie Axel.
“It was making sure the family was all good with the birth of Charlie and making sure Elin was OK, Charlie was OK, everything was safe and sound on the home front,” he said. “Then the focus was on playing again.”
The Associated Press

Japanese Tiger Woods To Tee Off At Riviera

No pressure kid. All you have to do is be the Japanese Tiger Woods.
Ryo Ishikawa came out of nowhere to win on the Japanese tour at age 15. He instantly became a sensation on the island nation, and has won again on that tour at 17. Win at a young age in golf and there is only one person everyone compares you to — and it’s about as fair as young basketball players being compared to Michael Jordan. But now it comes with the territory.
Ishikawa makes his American debut at the Riviera Country Club as he tees off Thursday in the first round of the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
And that fits right in with the Tiger comparisons. Back in 1992 (one year after Ishikawa was born) a 16-year-old Orange County high schooler named Tiger Woods came to Riviera (back when the event was called he Los Angeles Open) to test himself. Woods missed the cut that time around, but since then has gone on to do pretty well for himself.
There are about 100 members of the Japanese media following Ishikawa’s every move around the legendary Pacific Palisades course. And this is just a tune up for the Masters in a few weeks, where he also has an invite to play.
The presence of Ishikawa should divert attention from some of the other players, like defending champion Phil Mickelson, who would probably like not so many people to watch his game lately.
In three tournaments this year he has finished no better than 42nd, and he has missed one cut. Last year was considered an off year — only for someone of his standards, really — with just two wins.
But one of those was at Riviera, so there is hope that if he is going to turn it around and give the fans a name they know and love atop the leaderboard.
Unless Ishikawa is about to become that kind of name.
Copyright NBC Local Media

15 Tips on Golf Swing Shots

By Mick Euan Tait
Golf swing tips can be found on-line or you can purchase one of the golf swing instructional e-books. Most of the tips on golf swing techniques in these guides have lots of details - more often than not - too much detail. What most of us with a golf swing fault need are just a few basic golf swing tips; whether it is to fix a slice or learn more about iron shots.
5 Tips on How to Drive Long Off the Tee
One of the best ways to achieve lower scores is to gain more golf distance. When you are faced with a shorter distance to the green you will have more chance to score par or better. Needless to say, you will need accuracy as well as distance; otherwise you will be in a worse position. Here are 5 easy and quick tips to help you drive long:
(1) Don't hit the ball with all your power - use a steady rhythm and work on increasing your swing speed;
(2) Tee the ball up higher and position it off your leading foot's instep so that you hit the ball on the upswing;
(3) Turn your shoulders a full 90 degrees for maximum distance;
(4) Cock your wrists early on the backswing and un-cock them as late as possible on the downswing;
(5) Use the right shaft flex for your swing speed - use a flexible shaft if you have a lower swing speed.
5 Tips on How to Master
The Golf IronsMastering the golf irons is an often overlooked topic. You will find many resources available to help you improve your driving or putting but not much importance is placed on golf iron play. Learning to dominate your golf irons is easy with these 5 tips:
(1) To know your average distance with each golf iron in your bag, practice on the driving range;
(2) Bu using the right iron for the distance you want to hit it, you will be able to use a full swing which is easier to control;
(3) Make sure you take into account the wind distance and strength as well as other factors like the slope you are playing from and the height to the green;
(4) Playing out off the rough is different from playing off the fairway - you will need to adjust your ball position, stance, iron loft, and your attack angle;
(5) Learn how to use course management to your advantage - sometimes going for the pin is not the best option.
5 Tips on How to Improve Your Golf Short GameOne of the most important areas of the golf game is the golf short game. If you are able to hit long and accurate drives, that is great, but if you can't chip or pitch the ball on the green, all that effort will be wasted. The short game of golf is where you really need to put more practice time into, so check out the 5 tips below:
(1) Use a bump and run from under 50 yards, and get the ball rolling as quickly as possible; (2) Place your feet closer together and use a slightly open stance;
(3) Pick one club, a 7, 8, or 9 iron for example, and practice your chipping from different distances with the club you are more comfortable with;
(4) The length of your back-swing will determine the distance the ball will travel (carry and roll);
(5) If you have to play over a hazard, use a more lofted iron with a pitching style of swing.These tips on golf swing technique cover three areas of the game that are important but there are other areas that you have to learn to dominate. They are bunker or sand trap play, putting, pitching, and learning how to cure a slice or hook (if you have these swing faults.)
Golf is an all round game - meaning that you have to be proficient in every aspect of the game. Don't just concentrate on how to be a long driver; instead practice with every club in your golf bag.
About the Author:
You can find more detailed tips at Mick's website on how to Improve Golf Iron Play and How To Drive Long Off The Tee, as well as the other important golf swing techniques.

Tiger Woods, Sports Needs You Like Never Before- Scott Soshnick

Commentary by Scott Soshnick

Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Lost in the hubbub of humiliations, including admissions from Alex Rodriguez, came two words of hope from one of the few untarnished athlete icons left.
“Full-bore,” was the status report delivered last week by a post-operative Tiger Woods, a one-man cure for diminished expectations.
Whether it’s Rodriguez and ‘roids or Michael Phelps and his bong, the best keep disappointing those who so desperately want to believe in athletic supernovas.
Maybe it’s all tied to the recession. Along with a credit crunch there’s a crisis of character. Too many excuses for personal failures. A-Rod, for instance, said the pressure made him do it.
It’s laughable when you consider pressure and Woods, who carries more of a burden each time out than any baseball player. A-Rod has teammates who can pick him up, help him out or perhaps pat him on the back.
Golfers go it alone. Everyone chases The Chosen One. For Woods it’s one man versus the field. If you think that’s an exaggeration, then consider the reason 2008 Player of the Year Padraig Harrington gave for wishing Woods a speedy return.
“He will draw away attention, which is not a bad thing,” Harrington said during a press conference at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. “It’s obviously a lot easier to compete when you’re under the radar.”
Power, Precision
The best of the tennis bunch, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, did their best to fill the greatness gap, but nothing in sports -- nothing -- inspires awe like Woods’s power and precision.
I walked San Diego’s Torrey Pines Golf Course during last year’s U.S. Open, standing a few yards behind a wincing Woods, who blocked out the pain of an injured knee and beat the rest on one good leg.
Take a good look at Woods, who has the same V-shaped physique as A-Rod. Does anyone think Woods is a pharmacological phony?
Remember, back in 2006, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem decried drug testing without evidence that golfers were using steroids.
One day later, one, Woods, the most powerful man in the sport, volunteered his veins.
“Tomorrow would be fine with me,” he said. That sounds like Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who somehow, as far as we know, coped with playoff pressure and expectations in New York without steroids.
Need Him Back
With a tip of the cap to Simon and Garfunkel, a sports-mad nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Mr. Woods.
We haven’t seen golf’s god since he underwent surgery in June. We need him back.
Woods, 33, didn’t give a time, date or place for his return to the tee box. Right now, he’s focused on improving stamina and spending time with his new arrival, son Charlie Axel, who was born on Feb. 8.
Family first, said Woods, who made it clear that his return date is linked to his ability to dominate.
“Early on, I didn’t miss golf because I enjoyed staying home with (wife) Elin and (daughter) Sam, and I knew I wasn’t physically able to play,” Woods said. “The truth is, I would have embarrassed myself.”
If only Phelps and A-Rod had such insight into forethought.
Fact is Woods’s presence has never been more needed. Emotionally and economically.
Recession Cure
Golf’s television ratings dip without him. Sponsorship dollars fall. To quote Finchem, the recession puts pressure on PGA sponsors, many of whom are slashing marketing budgets. But this is Woods, who commands eyeballs, which leaves advertisers drooling. If he’s there, they’ll spend.
“Tiger brings significant numbers of people to our telecasts that don’t watch all the other weeks,” Finchem told me over the telephone in December. “They’re engrossed in the No. 1 athlete in the sport and the most recognizable athlete in the world.”
Engrossed is the perfect word for watching Woods.
People stop what they’re doing when he lines up a big-time putt or prepares to launch a drive. I’ve seen conflicted travelers, panicked by the final boarding call for their flight, weighing whether to miss their plane or the latest wonder from Woods.
More than one chose Woods, who spent some of his downtime in the nation’s capital, speaking at the ceremonies leading up to Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Woods didn’t give us a date for his return. Only an update. Full-bore. It won’t be long now.
“It’s going to be a hectic spring,” he said.
A hopeful one, too.
(Scott Soshnick is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.)
To contact the writer of this column: Scott Soshnick in New York at ssoshnick@bloomberg.net