Golf: Final Thoughts On The Cadillac Championship

What a great week of golf for fans everywhere. The WGC-Cadillac Championship had everything that is great for a great game. Steve Stricker summed it up after his second place finish behind the player he had given a putting tip to, earlier in the week. When asked if he was sorry that he had given Tiger Woods the tip that would eventually cost him the tournament, he said,

"“No”. “The older players gave me tips when I was younger, and in golf, that’s how we operate. He just clipped me today, and I’m glad he won the tournament”."

The big question we have to take away from Doral, is Tiger back? When asked about it, Tiger said

"“No, why would I want to be like I was, I want to be better”."

Isn’t that the words of a great champion? That is the reason that it will be a while before the career of Tiger Woods is eclipsed, if it ever is. You always have to believe that someone is waiting to best you, but it will take another special person to do it.

"Only once in a generation or two, do we get a Michael Jordan, a Ted Williams, or a Tiger Woods."

In it’s last appearance before major reconstruction, The Blue Monster gave us one more memorable week. After lulling everyone to sleep in the early rounds with friendly winds, and favorable bounces, Sunday provided a whole new challenge. The wind turned to the Southeast, and stiffened, the greens got very hard, and less forgiving, and par became everyone’s friend, including the winner. After three consecutive rounds in the 60’s, Tiger Woods could only muster a one under par 71 on Sunday, and three birdies on what had up to that point, been a birdie-fest for the champ.

Phil Mickelson, who wanted desperately to play in the final group on Sunday, tried to make a charge, but could not get his putter to cooperate. Phil played very good tee to green, but could not make a short putt. Lefty looks to have his game on track for a run at his fourth Green Jacket, and I have no doubt he will be ready for Augusta. Maybe he needs to check in with Stricker for a quick pointer of two.

Congrats has to go out to Adam Scott. Scott shot the tournament low score for the entire week on Sunday by posting an -8 under 64 in difficult conditions. The low round round gave him a share of third place with Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Graeme McDowell.

Last but not least, much to my chagrin, guess who showed up on the second page of the leaderboard, late in his round. There it was, Rory McIlroy shot a bogey-free round -7 under par 65 on Sunday to finish the tournament in a tie for eighth place. Rory got it going early with eagle at the first hole, and had it going all day. He looks to have solved some of his woes, and indicated his old swing was coming back. He has decided to stay with his original schedule which is an appearance at Houston being his only warm-up for Augusta. I can only imagine what a treat we would have had, if Rory could have come to Doral with his A-Game.

Now I can’t wait until next month, and all of those Azaleas.

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