Woods' peers pay homage to superstar before 101st U.S.
Open
By Sandy Zinn SportsTicker Golf Editor
TULSA, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- The admiration for Tiger Woods is not limited
to the adoring public or enthralled media. Just listen to what his peers have to
say.
This week, Woods will shoot for his unprecedented fifth straight major title as
the 101st U.S. Open gets under way Thursday at Southern Hills Country Club.
If he hasn't already, Woods is establishing himself as the most dominant golfer
in history. He has won six major championships, among his 34 individual titles
worldwide, and is expected to add another this week.
Woods' success has translated into immense interest from fans and unimaginable intrigue from media
members. But he also affects those he defeats week in and week out.
"I've never seen anyone like him in all the years that I've been playing golf," said Nick Price of
Zimbabwe, a former world No. 1 and three-time major winner.
Price was speaking of Woods' ability to hit shots under pressure, and the phenomenal pressure he puts
on opponents when he hits those shots.
"And he's done it so many times now," Price said.
Woods especially does it in the majors.
At last year's British Open, he completed the career grand slam. And at this season's Masters, the
25-year-old became the first player in history to hold all four major crowns simultaneously.
Such accomplishments have forced his peers to utter things not heard before around the golf course.
Sergio Garcia, a 21-year-old Spaniard who is thought to be one of the few people that could challenge
the world's best player down the road, admitted you can't make any mistakes if you want to defeat him.
"The way to overcome Tiger is to be perfect," said Garcia, who won his first PGA Tour title last month.
"And if not, congratulate him."
David Duval, a friend of Woods who previously held the top ranking in the world, said you to need play
"kind of mistake-free" when the back nine rolls around on Sundays.
Duval should know. He took Woods to the wire at The Masters before bogeying the 17th hole en route
to a runner-up finish that kept the sixth-ranked player in the world without a major title.
"I think that's the big key to playing against Tiger and to beating Tiger is to really concentrate on your
strengths and to play to those and not make the mistakes and try to do the things that you can't do,"
Duval said.
Most of Duval's pretournament media session was spent talking about Woods, something even one of the
most standoffish players on tour has accepted.
"If I was on the other side of this microphone, I'd be asking about him, too," Duval said. "I think anybody
else, you try to find something else you can write because what else is there to say?"
Two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa also was subjected to the crush of Tiger
questions. He admitted that the attention motivates him to play well.
"Yeah, it does," he said. "But you've got to hand it to him. He's won the last four majors. It's no wonder
you guys ask these questions because it's just the way it is."
The four consecutive major titles was a topic of conversation for Davis Love III, the seventh-ranked
player in the world who normally tries to deflect questions about Woods.
"Obviously, we keep coming back to it, but there is an explanation for why Tiger Woods is the best
player in the world and (is on) the best streak that anyone has been on in a long, long time," Love said.
"We haven't ever seen anybody putt like that, that can hit the ball over 250 yards. It's mind-boggling that
you can go on that kind of a streak for that long."
The streak began with last year's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and includes a memorable British Open
triumph at St. Andrews and a playoff victory over Bob May at the PGA Championship.
The run of major victories has brought people to try to compare it to some of the greatest achievements
in sports history, like Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak.
"I don't really know how you could compare it to that 56-game hitting streak," Duval said. "I may be
biased, but I'd sure like to have Tiger's streak."
The streak also has players putting Tiger's effect on the sport in perspective.
"I think we're lucky enough to be playing in a time when you're seeing a person who might very well end
up being the greatest player that's ever played the game," Duval said.
"I feel lucky," Garcia added. "Because, I think, thanks to Tiger, he's raising the level up. Our games are
getting better and better, for sure."
They'll have to be better this week, with Woods an overwhelming even-money favorite to win again.
But the humble superstar remains focused. He has not gotten caught up in his own hype.
"Would I put money on me? Probably not," said Woods, the all-time money leader in golf history. "Just
because I don't think it would be a good business decision, with those odds.
"Now, do I like my chances? Yes, I do."
Woods said there are times when he looks back at his accomplishments and realizes how special they
are. But he said he gets a better appreciation for his feats from what other people say.
"Sometimes I have to rely on others to give me a clear perspective of what it has really meant in the
game," he said. "And it's been kind of neat to hear that sometimes."
updated at Wed Jun 13 09:23:17 2001 PT |
