The Tiger

Count me in as a Tiger Woods fan. I find myself rooting for him and am disappointed when he falls short.

Some say he hasn't got it. I say hockey puck.

Yes, hockey puck. Don't ask me what it means, it's an old college saying I remember that pretty much states I disagree.

Simply put how many golfers were in position to win going into the final day of the Masters and US Open this year? Tiger was.

You can't be chop liver and be up there on the leader board on the final day. And this from a golfer who took what, six months off.

Has Tiger lost that edge? Who can answer that.

Is his twelve-step program moving along smoothly? Being a professional in this area this man can tell you that any major changes to life styles in the first year of a recovery program has nothing but ups and downs. Mental consistency is dam near completely lost.

This is one for the ages, a superior athlete in his sport still in his prime, still able to add to his title totals, a good looking fit 30-something billionaire who probably isn't getting any sex. What do you relate money, success and youth to in this country is what the Tiger has sworn off.

Could that be the issue here? Has Tiger lost his edge because he's been pushed over the edge? This man thinks so, but it is only a temporary thing.

How can one of the best in the world come off the practice tee and a couple of holes later pull a snaphook off the tee in the fourth round? Such a mental collapse is the norm, how can he lose his swing on such an important day?

Any major life style change be it the alcoholic, the drug addict or sex addict will undergo a process where their world is upside down. In time things return to normal but that doesn't happen in six weeks nor six months.

You are looking at a year at least. For Tiger to do what he did, be in the position on the leader board that final day in the biggest golf tournaments is incredible.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell ended the tournament at even par. He seems a very likable guy, his dad was there for a nice father's day touch to the story.

McDowell was a smooth swinging guy who hit fairways and greens, not over powering the shot, no drives that wow'd you other than they always found the fairway.

Had to wonder why guys like Woods and Phil Mickelson attack the ball the way they do. Seems like they have so much power they could settle back a bit and hit the ball like a layup shot, grab an extra club for an easier swing and more accuracy.

In the end the rock hard lumpy greens like Pebble Beach was for this US Open really doesn't bring out the best in the competition, it more or less brings out the most lucky yet consistent guy of the week.

McDowell deserved it he had to be the course leader tee to fairway, fairway to green, and his putting was stellar.

As for poor old Tiger he's going to be back, he's far too good not to be. His will to win is just overpowering. This is the time that the man just can't win, but that time will not last for long.