On the contrary, it’s exactly on point. Tiger can’t play these tourneys because he is unable to play. Tough, that’s the way things go. There’s no need to lessen the accomplishments of others because Tiger was physically unable to compete. Injuries are a part of any game.
He overcame it in the US Open but it cost him down the road; those are decisions every athlete has to make from time to time.
Watch what happens to those ratings when Tiger isn’t playing. Of course it matters. Whoever wins those things will not have beaten the best. It’s a consolation prize. It’s second place.
That might be more on point if his injury was the result of some car accident, or something outside the sport. The injury came directly from the way Tiger plays, which includes an aggressive swing that causes strain on the knee and leg. It’s a choice Tiger made to play that way, and has consequences.
And also, ratings? What are you, a broadcaster? My personal interest in a sport has nothing to do with what the Nielsen ratings are for it.
While I agree the ratings will likely drop, I’m not convinced that that this proves that winning a Major that didn’t have Tiger Woods in it is as big a letdown as your post indicates.
ETA:Raygun had not posted when I wrote this post.
Actually, after the surgery, he’ll probably really suck at golf. Temporarily of course, but mentally inserting him in the #1 spot because he was good (and will most likely remain good) is ridiculous. And hell, he might go Barry Zito and never be any good at any point in the future.
Sure they will have beaten the best; the best that were physically able to play. Since Tiger is unable to play he’s clearly not the best for the rest of this year.
You don’t get to remove the physical aspect from the game. His body broke down.
Surely the fact that he’s pulled out of the last two majors is proof. The alternative is that he’s deliberately missing half of the year’s serious tournaments in order to retrospectively lend credibility to an emotional ploy designed to gain him support in a tournament he’s already won. And that’s such a stupid idea that my fingers actually hurt from typing it.
Apologies. I mistakenly attributed to you DtC’s contention that Tiger’s statement “irrefutably debunked” any and all rumors.
Everybody lies.
DSY - nearly all of my criticisms of Tiger are tongue in cheek. I’m sorta surprised so many people are so eager to take it seriously. The guy is superhuman, so ridiculously good it almost seems fitting that any criticisms of him be ridiculous as well.
But I do hate how the media plays it, and my personal opinion is that his dominance does not make for entertaining golf. I imagine I feel the same way a lot of non-Chicago hoops fans felt a while back, when the gameplan was keep it close and give Michael the ball.
Hey - did you hear the real reason Tiger is withdrawing for the season to avoid a suspension for steroid abuse? 
I bet the TV networks are calling Tim Finchem and demanding that the “Casey Martin Rule” be removed, and that Tiger be allowed to have a chauffeur take him from hole to hole.
Walking wasn’t so much the problem.
I know, I know- my point (and attempted joke) was that TV networks are so desperate for Tiger to compete, they’d accommodate him in any imaginable way.
And who could blame him? When Tiger is playing and contending, everybody watches. Without Tiger, even the majors won’t have that much appeal for people who aren’t golf fanatics.
I guarantee you he will not suck at golf when he comes back. Don’t forget, he had people in a panic after both of his big swing changes and wasn’t winning majors. “He’ll never win again!” “He should go back to his old swing!!” “For the love of OG, WHERE’S BUTCH HARMON!!!”
In both cases, he was patient and proved the critics wrong. Until I see him hacking like a high handicapper and missing cuts in minor tournaments I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
My gut feeling: 2009 Masters winner = Tiger Woods. By a respectable margin.
p.s. As for the “asterisk” question…winning a major is a huge accomplishment no matter who is or isn’t in the field, and I don’t think it will diminish anyone’s victory at the British or PGA to not have had Tiger in the field. Think about it…if Tiger hadn’t played this week, the U.S. Open winner would have been Rocco Mediate, and everyone and his uncle would have said “Pffft…if Tiger had been around, no way would that guy have won.” And they would have been right, but let’s face it…Rocco was just one putt from being the outright winner, and came within one stroke of Beating Tiger head to head in the playoff. If he’d been the winner, he would have earned it fair and square against the best. There’s no reason to believe the same won’t be true of whoever wins the British and PGA, even if their odds of winning were increased by not having the Tiger hurdle to clear.
Another “celebrity” releases material.
Jack Nicklaus always thought the U.S. Open was the hardest and most complete test in golf. That’s what made Tiger Woods’ victory even more impressive to the man whose major record Woods is trying to beat.
“To have a will as strong as that, I take my hat off to him,” Nicklaus said Thursday.
“In light of this week’s revelation about Tiger’s health, it makes his performance in the U.S. Open that much more phenomenal,” Nicklaus said. “I have always said that the U.S. Open is the most difficult and complete examination of a golfer, and for him to persevere with a damaged knee and stress fracture is a testament not only to his ability but his tremendously high level of competitiveness.”
*
Surgery was today, described as “reconstructive.” This usually means more than a simple resection of a partial ACL tear. I wonder if they had to reattach it?
Now the real question: Did they give him a Tommy John knee? 
I just hope they didn’t use cadaver donor material from an executed serial killer or something, resulting in his having an evil knee!
I’m imagining more of a Steve Austin scenario…“we’ll build him better, faster, stronger…” :eek:
Golf existed before Tiger . it will continue after him. There will be another great star. Tiger,Nicklaus,Palmer,Hogan etc. They will keep on coming.