| No!
While Tiger Woods is the overwhelming favorite at the British Open, don't hand him the Claret Jug just yet.AP |
By Gary Van Sickle, Sports Illustrated
Nobody wins all the time in golf. Not even Tiger Woods. So while I agree that Woods should be an overwhelming favorite to handle all comers on St. Andrews' Old Course, let's not hand him the Claret Jug yet.
We've been here before. When Tiger won the Masters by a kazillion shots, he didn't win the next major. He didn't win another major for two and a half years.
How about earlier this year, when Tigermania was peaking after he extended his PGA Tour winning streak to six with his come-from-behind win at Pebble Beach? He was sure to win the Masters, which is the major that is tailor-made for his wonderful mix of power and finesse. In the words of the great philosopher Britney Spears: oops, he did it again. He didn't win at Augusta, just as he didn't win the Western Open, his first tournament after his Pebble Beach pounding. Woods had a career week with his putter at Pebble. At Cog Hill, his putting looked remarkably mortal.
The Old Course greens are full of subtleties that lifetime caddies there are still trying to master. Sure, Woods may win.
Just don't count on it. | Yes!
Tiger Woods is vying to become the youngest ever to win the career Grand Slam.Allsport/Jamie Squire |
By Alan Shipnuck, Sports Illustrated
Of course Tiger Woods is a lock to win the British Open. They're only playing the tournament out of habit.
Ben Hogan in 1953? Bobby Jones in 1930? Forget about it. Tiger Woods in 2000 is going to go down as the most dominant year in golf history.
It started on the West Coast with the winning streak; it continued at the U.S. Open, and that was only a warm-up. Wait 'til the kid gets his meathooks into the Old Course, it's going to be farcical. 20 under? 25 under? It could happen, easily.
There isn't a track in championship golf that rewards length like the Old Course, not even Augusta National, which Woods has already pulverized. Without a stiff breeze, the Old Course is so vulnerable that Nick Faldo went 18 under in winning the 1990 Open Championship. Even back then he was a singles hitter with an iffy putting stroke.
Woods has been playing for history since he was a preteen; this week he'll make more of it. |
