Golf Update: 2010 is definitely not ‘the year of the tiger’ in golf.
According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the year of the Tiger. Many historians and golf critiques proposed that Tiger Woods will definitely shine in 2010. Even though he still hasn’t broken the 18 major championship titles record of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger
still remains at number one. Recently, however, Tiger’s career and his number one spot have gotten in jeopardy following his scandal and divorce. Where people expected Woods to return to East Lake to reclaim his FedEx cup trophy for the third time, he didn’t
even qualify for it. Instead of Tiger, 2010 seems to be the year of young talent and international stars.
Last season, Tiger won seven times around the world and got his second FedEx Cup title. This year, his much-loved playgrounds were on the list. Pebble Beach, Augusta National and Old Course at St.Andrews were the three miraculous venues where Woods has
won seven of his fourteen majors. Coming from such a great season and playing on somewhat ‘lucky’ grounds, a lot was expected from Woods.
Even though he didn’t do well in 2010, somehow the amount of media coverage Woods got this year really put him in the spotlight. Wood was really highlighted in November 2009, when he was sucked into a whirlpool of scandals. After the car crash in front of
Florida House, major news about the golf star’s infidelity came out in public. All this drama and chaos subsequently led to his divorce from Elin Nordegren in August. Ever since November, the increased public criticism and depression of losing one’s family
has seriously had detrimental effects on World Number one’s game.
Tiger didn’t really shine in places where he had won previously. The Pebble Beach where he had won the U.S Open by fifteen shots and The British Open on the Old course by eight and five shots didn’t seem to prove lucky for Tiger. Woods was without a win
in 12 starts and didn’t make it to the Tour Championship or automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup.
Instead of the best winning it all, the victories have been more inclined towards the youth. Where last year players in their twenties won only seven tournaments, these young players have swept with fifteen wins this season.
This trend was most frequent in May of this year when two young international players showed how much talent they have got. The 18 year old Japanese player Ryo Ishikawa amazed everyone by scoring a 12-under-par 58, which was the lowest score ever on a major
tour.
Another young star, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland who is also called ‘Boy Wonder’, stunned the field at the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship. The 20 year old shot a tournament-record 62 and won against the reigning Masters Champion and four-time
major winner Phil Mickelson. Rory has also finished with six continuous threes on what is known as the Tour’s toughest course. He became the youngest player to win on Tour since Woods had won at Disney in 1996 at the age of twenty. With his amazing performance
this season, Rory even qualified for the Ryder Cup which will start in October in Wales.
Rickie Fowler is yet another player in his twenties who will be competing in the Ryder Cup. Fowler was one of Captain Corey Pavin’s picks for the American squad.
Other players in their 20’s who have been triumphant are Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose; both of the players have had two victories each on Tour this season. Other winners include Anthony Kim, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Bill Haas, Camilo Villegas, and Derek Lamely.
Martin Kaymer was extremely popular after winning the PGA Championship and so was Louis Oosthuizen who won the British Open.
With so many new champions in Golf, the charm of the Tiger seems to have faded away .Where he was the most respected golfer since years, people now criticize him for his actions. Keeping his personal life aside, if Woods really wants, he can still earn the
respect back by showing the world that he is still the Number one golfer out there.
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