Tiger Myth

If you're a fan of the show (which I'm guessing you are if you're reading this...), you know that I'm not a huge Tiger Woods fan. It doesn't have anything to do with his personal life, or personal jealously, even though I'd love to look that scary in red. It's mostly because of his attitude, and a blantant disregard for the etiquitte instilled in all golfers when they first learn to play. However, all of that aside, one thing I can't stand is the belief that professional golfers are scared of Tiger Woods.

Chances are, you've heard it before from announcers and fans alike: "Uh oh, here comes Tiger! I bet is going to crumble!" Forget the fact that Tiger still has never come from behind on a Sunday to win a Major championship. There's a widely-held belief that other golfers on the tour watch Tiger's every move, and tremble with fear as he approaches them on the leaderboard.

It's completely ridiculous.

Golf is a game of inner focus. Are other golfers cognizant of what Tiger (and everyone else) is doing? Of course. They need to know where they stand for strategy purposes. But, pro golfers have to focus on themselves. They wouldn't be playing at the PGA Tour level if they didn't. Brian Murphy of Yahoo! Sports writes a terrific piece on how Sunday's results at The Masters proves that other golfers are unafraid. Murphy focuses on what the other golfers did once Tiger tied for a share of the lead through 10 holes:

Jason Day: bogey-free back nine 32, including birdies on 17 and 18. Adam Scott: without a major title and questioned for his mental toughness, played behind Tiger’s roars and posted a bogey-free 33 on the back nine, finishing ahead of Tiger.

Geoff Ogilvy: already with a major in the Tiger Era (the 2006 U.S. Open), played in the twosome immediately behind Tiger and ripped off five consecutive birdies for a back-nine 31, tying Tiger’s final-round 67.

Luke Donald: playing behind Tiger’s noise, bounced back from a double-bogey on No. 12 for a back-nine 34, going three under in his last six holes.

Charl Schwartzel: all of 26 years old (just 12 when Tiger won the 1997 Masters) and playing behind Tiger’s pine-rattling crowds, carded arguably the greatest back nine since Nicklaus in ’86, a bogey-free 32 and those instantly historic four consecutive birdies. Oh, by the way, he’ll be drawing up the menu for next year’s Champions Dinner.

Just like the '09 Masters when Tiger charged the front nine and faded away, the rest of the field was unafraid. Tiger is great. Tiger will win again. But, the psychologial impact that Tiger has on the rest of golf is grossly overrated.