4 observations from watching Tiger Woods up close for the first time

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Working in golf is enjoyable.

Traveling to work in golf? I’ll admit now: Slightly much less enjoyable.

My week started with a 4 a.m. alarm and 6 hours of journey, which usually would have been sufficient to place me in a nasty temper. But not this time. I used to be giddy. Not solely is that this week’s PGA Championship my first time protecting a event in particular person for GOLF, it’s additionally my first time attending a serious championship for any motive. Sure, the pre-dawn flight from Boise to Louisville (by way of Minneapolis) was suboptimal, however I used to be getting paid to go to the PGA Championship. I’d’ve taken a Greyhound.

From the window seat of the first leg of my Monday morning flight, I contemplated the prospects.

I get to look at Scottie Scheffler at the peak of his powers.

I get to see Rory hit the ball a mile into the sky.

Maybe Brooks Koepka can go back-to-back.

I must do every little thing I can to cherish this second.

It’s embarrassing to confess, however seeing Tiger play in particular person didn’t actually cross my thoughts. When I began taking part in golf, Tiger had simply gained his 14th main at the 2008 U.S. Open. His fifteenth main at the Masters in 2019 is one in all the nice sports activities recollections of my life, however on the complete, I’ve watched him miss the reduce extra instances than I’ve seen him win. During most of my golf-watching life, Tiger has been a legendary determine lurking largely in the background, popping up every now and then to remind everybody that he’s nonetheless right here, and he’s nonetheless the finest ever to do it. 

And then I noticed him stroll into the press tent on Tuesday and it hit me.

I’m an fool. I’ve an opportunity to look at the GOAT. The man who took the sport I like to heights no one thought attainable.

Nothing is assured in life. Tiger and his prolonged checklist of career-altering accidents are proof of that. And neglect Tiger — this may very well be my final main for all I do know. I didn’t need to look at him, I needed to.

So I trekked out early Wednesday morning by means of the muddy slopes of Valhalla to just do that, and I got here away with just a few observations from the expertise.

4 observations from watching Tiger Woods up close

1. He’s the epitome of a “grinder”

Tiger has been right here since Sunday. Including the scouting journey final week and the three different occasions he’s performed at Valhalla, he already is aware of each blade of grass on the golf course.

He says it takes him two hours to prepare and two hours to energy down each single time he performs. With that in thoughts, it’s not a stretch to say he’s been up at 4 a.m. each day this week (a lot for my whining). The steep land motion round the course makes navigating the place an onerous stroll for even a wholesome twentysomething. I can solely think about what it’s doing to his proper leg and fused again. So why not take it straightforward in the present day earlier than 4 straight days of 18 holes? Because he’s Tiger Woods.

He spent close to 2 hours on the vary on Wednesday morning, together with greater than 40 minutes hitting 10-footers. Then he went out and performed a pair apply holes to get a really feel for the softness of the course after just a few days of rain. He can’t assist it, he loves the grind. It’s inspiring to look at and I’m grateful to witness his legendary competitiveness up close this week.

2. His swing is smoooooth

For a man with a fused again and extra steel in him than my 90-year-old grandfather, it’s hanging to see how easy Tiger’s swing is. I’ve seen so many older movies of him attacking the ball with pace and energy. His accidents have robbed him of the means to try this, however all these years of accrued {golfing} knowledge have gifted him a few of the dreamiest swing tempo I’ve ever seen.

After the awe wore off, I turned stuffed with jealousy watching Woods hit irons. His idyllic transition and easy wrist flick will occupy my thoughts each time I swing a membership. When I return to Boise from Louisville, I do know I’ll spend hours on the vary making an attempt to repeat it, absolutely to the detriment of my very own recreation. Nobody can copy Tiger. Fans and professionals alike have been making an attempt for years with zero success. But that gained’t cease me from making an attempt, as a result of that’s what watching Tiger does to an individual.

3. He handles fame like a science

Tiger has extra followers following him round at 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday than most gamers see all week. He’s performed golf in entrance of hundreds of thousands of individuals all through his profession. The downside, although, is that the crowds by no means get smaller. Everyone needs an autograph, an image, a glimpse of the most well-known golfer ever.

The ceaseless crowds would ship me into an expletive-filled tirade in about 10 minutes, however he appeared to deal with it with ease, hardened over years of eyeballs fixated on his each transfer.

He doesn’t acknowledge the litany of hoots and hollers and autograph requests, besides for a uncommon nod of the head or slight wave of the hand. He appears a wonderfully calculated mixture of grateful for the assist however laser-focused on the objective forward — and relaxation assured, it’s calculated.

It’s nonetheless a lot sufficient to ship the plenty right into a tizzy. The Tiger Woods gave them a head nod, a narrative they are going to absolutely inform for years to come back. And if I’m being trustworthy with myself, so would I.

4. There are nonetheless glimpses

The spotlight of my time with Tiger was watching him play the ninth gap. The quick par-4 is on no account a troublesome gap, and can most likely yield a plethora of birdies this week. But man, he performed it completely. The sound of his drive pierced by means of the timber because it floated down the center of the fairway. He made quick work of the wedge shot that adopted, sticking it inside 10 ft of the pin, tempo on full show. Easy birdie. 

It was a glimpse of the Tiger that gained every little thing. A participant with elite precision and execution. I at all times thought his “I’m here because I believe I can win” speak was simply lip service. Deep down there’s no method he truly believes that, proper? It’s only a thoughts recreation.

Now I’m not so positive. Every golfer is aware of that feeling. After taking part in a gap completely, you stroll away considering that golf truly is conquerable. That’s the feeling that retains us coming again for extra. Tiger nonetheless experiences this now, even together with his well being points. You can see it on his face.

He is aware of the recreation remains to be inside him, and if he can discover the consistency? Who is aware of. Do I believe he can win once more? I’m pessimistic. Stringing 72 holes of excellent golf collectively appears unlikely. But mine or anybody else’s ideas on his probabilities don’t matter. He believes he can win, and his opinion is the just one that issues.

I realized loads of classes from following Tiger this morning, but when there’s one that can persist with me lengthy after the week is finished, it’s his unwavering perception. It may need even made a believer out of me.