The Savvy Boomer

Vancouver Sun reporter reaches new low on Tiger reporting

I've never been a big fan of Tiger's because I personally think he has a huge ego but I've always thought he is probably the best golfer ever.  So when the crap hit the fan about his philandering, like others, I have watched the train wreck this has turned into with a lot of different emotions with my main thought being that if it's true, he deserves the bad publicity.

Enter Cam Cole, a Canadian journalist who thinks he knows something about golf and life.  His recent column in the Vancouver Sun manages to take a run at cocktail waitresses, nightclub hostesses, waitresses, (no politically correct terms for Mr. Cole-sexist terms are apparently OK when you talk about women who work in certain jobs) party arrangers, (OK nothing sexist here, but apparently all these jobs are not "sophisticated"-maybe if a couple of CEOS were on the list Mr. Cole would have been happier) African-Americans, Vegas, Stanford University, Oprah, blondes, Sweden and of course Tiger.  All this in 751 words.  Good stuff for a reporter whom a friend of mine once remarked about at the now defunct Vancouver Open several years ago-"Who's that little chubby guy that gets to walk inside the ropes?"

Newspapers are going out of business and reporters are whining about it by blaming bloggers huh?  Too bad.  I think the only reason I haven't canceled my subscription to the Sun is because I need it about 10 minutes every morning-if you know what I mean.

TW comes close at Turnberry

These days, when you read about golf and the initials TW, you usually think about Tiger Woods.  This weekend however, no one was thinking about Tiger and everyone , especially boomers, were hoping that the "old"  TW, Tom Watson could pull off a miracle at the British Open.  And if it wasn't for Watson hitting an 8 iron on 18 a few feet too far, the media would be falling over themselves trying to come up with unrealistic analogies about what an incredible achievement it is for a man just short of 60 to win one of the most coveted events in golf.

I sat in front of my TV screaming at that approach shot on 18 to bite before it slid off the back of the green but when Watson missed the putt to win, I turned it off because I didn't want to watch what was probably going to happen and eventually did.  Of course, I recorded it, but you could just see from the look on Watson's face that he was spent.

Tom Watson is the epitome of class and while he didn't win, he gave us all a look back at why the era of Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Watson and Miller was the most exciting era in professional golf.

Oh yeah, some guy by the name of Stewart Cink won.

Boomers are taking over Turnberry

Watson (59), Calcavecchia (49), Singh (46), Jiminez (45) are in the top 4 of the British Open.  Can one of them pull it off?  ABSOLUTELY!!  (Tiger's out.)

The only thing hot about Tiger in the US Open is his mouth

No question that Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world.  But watching him say and mouth the "F" word after making what he considers to be a bad shot is just classless. Very seldom do other pros do this on national TV, but Tiger does so consistently, to the point that the announcers  on the US Open coverage even commented on it today. 

Clean up your act Tiger.  I'm sick of it.  I would think your legions of fans, especially the kids are as well.

Tom Lehman and Steve Williams separated at birth?

I switched on the Memorial this weekend and of course the first thing I saw was Tiger but did a double take and wondered why Tom Lehman was caddying for him.  Was Lehman joking around?  Then I realized, no, that's Steve Williams, Tiger's regular caddy but for some reason I never noticed the striking similarity before.  For me, that was the highlight of the tournament as Tiger ho-hummed another one.  In case you can't tell, that's Lehman on the right.

 

Seniors Day at the golf course

It's the Boomer vs Tiger

While I was hoping he'd miss, I just knew deep down that Tiger would make that putt to tie Rocco-because, well, because he's Tiger.  I don't give Rocco much chance in tomorrow's playoff, but I'm sure every golfer over 40 will be cheering him on.  Good luck Rocco. 

Angela Stanford would even have beaten Tiger today

We took in the LPGA tournament at the Superstition Mountain Course just outside of Phoenix today. After watching Annika Sorenstam and then Lorena Ochoa for a few holes, we caught up to the LPGA star with rock star status, Natalie Gulbis. Not only is she a solid golfer who is extremely attractive, with a winning smile, she is a great ambassador for women's golf, saying hi to everyone as she walked off the greens.

But she wasn't the star today.  One of her playing partners, Texan Angela Stanford, shot a course record, 62, 10 under par.  As we say in golf-she was in the zone.  When she passed a bottle of water to the guy beside me after teeing off on one hole, I asked if he was her husband.  He said he was her brother and was obviously very excited to watch his sister tear the course and the competition apart.  He said that while she is very consistent, she gets nervous if she's in the lead.  If she shoots another 62, she isn't going to have to be nervous about much.

I wished him and his sister luck as I headed off the course and he thanked me saying that Angela's main worry was Lorena Ochoa and he was right as Lorena shot a 7 under 65.  I don't know if she'll win but today Angela's star shone brightly.