Captain Tom Knows His Players... It's the Media Who Don't

I bet this counts as considered one of my rants. For those of you who revel in them, settle in.

For those of you who don't... tough. This is MY blog!

Monday Tom Watson had a news conference about the Ryder Cup and maybe half the questions were about Tiger. And when Tom said he would be waiting to see what Tiger said about his health and game, the media was shocked! Can you trust Tiger? they asked. Tom simply said “Absolutely. I trust him inherently." But that wasn't enough for the media, and Tom had to state it even more directly.

Of course, Wednesday added us Tiger's statement that he had withdrawn himself from consideration for the team (as well as another golf earlier than the World Challenge in December -- recollect, that helps his foundation so he hopes to play there) and had already contacted Tom Watson with the information (this quote is from the statement on tigerwoods.Com):

I actually have already spoken to Tom [Watson] about the Ryder Cup, and even as I substantially recognize his thinking about me for a probable captain's pick, I took myself out of consideration. The U.S. Group and the Ryder Cup mean too much to me now not with a purpose to provide it my best.

Tom tweeted that he hated it and praised Tiger for "taking the high road"... but I suspect he wanted to say "I told you so!" (I suspect he's also relieved that his news conferences will be about half as long from now on.)

When GC announced the announcement, maximum of the anchors regarded amazed. I wager it is going to be the not unusual reaction a few of the media at most sports shops. Let me explain.

The photo above came from myfox8.com (one of our local TV sites) last week, when they announced that Tiger told the Wyndham folks on Friday that he wouldn't be playing.

Excuse me, but doesn't that say Tiger "...will shut it down to get healthy"? I realize that doesn't categorically state that he won't play anymore this year, but isn't "shut it down" a bit more emphatic than just "won't be playing this week"? Shouldn't this have given the media some clue that Tiger was considering his options?

Or is it just that the media has determined that they choose the reckless Tiger of 2008 and refuse to just accept anything else?

Do any of you remember whilst Tiger first emerged after the scandal? When he made his public apology and stated he planned to alternate in lots of approaches, no longer simply his intercourse lifestyles? Remember how a number of the media complained a mere months later that Tiger hadn't changed in any respect? (As if someone could change every thing of their life in a trifling two months!)

Flash again or three months to Tiger's return from back surgery and to the clicking convention. I wrote in a submit that week:

Perhaps I neglected some thing but in the presser I saw, Tiger changed into requested if he idea he ought to win. He replied, "The purpose is always the identical..." but then he grinned and added "...But it is going to be plenty harder this time." That sounds to me like someone who thought the query become unrealistic and answered it with a shaggy dog story. But apparently Tiger isn't allowed to change OR to comic story.

There's an old truism that says "If you haven't changed a major belief in the last five years, check your pulse. You may be dead."

Perhaps the media wishes to test its pulse.

Clearly Tiger is changing. He's getting older and having to make adjustments to his game as well as his life. But the media seems to believe that if Tiger said something 15 years ago, he's not allowed to change it. (How well would you fare under those conditions?) Tiger always said he wouldn't play if he didn't think he could win... but that's back when he was young and did stupid things like defy doctor's orders and play 90 holes on a fractured leg. While I'm unwilling to make an absolute connection, that was the last major he won, wasn't it? He's struggled with injuries since.

But the media insists that Tiger both would not tell us the fact -- this is, that he no longer believes he can win -- or that he is deluded. They dissect his swing and tell him what he needs to do to fix it whilst it's clear he's not capable of swing the club normally. In fact, a number of analysts make it abundantly clean that unless Tiger does the whole thing exactly as he did again in 2000 he will NEVER break Jack's document. And Wednesday I heard analysts say that Tiger simplest played this summer time because of the majors, that the Ryder Cup wasn't absolutely an critical consideration for him. (This regardless of Tiger's suitable friend John Cook pronouncing that Tiger become extraordinarily prompted to make the team and had played in order to get on it.)

As a facet word, Michael Breed watched Tiger exercise on the PGA final week and said Tiger was hitting it natural on the variety, that he wasn't missing a shot, so his swing was reputedly k. But Tiger advised the press that he changed into having trouble taking it to the course (while, amongst other matters, video pictures shows that he's swinging an awful lot more difficult) and so Monday night time Breed did a niche approximately why players have that problem. Ironically, even after Tiger's statement Wednesday, I heard Paul Azinger on ESPN explaining how Tiger had to alternate his swing no matter the clean reality that his again nevertheless wasn't right. Isn't it even feasible that his swing troubles is probably associated with his returned, parents?

It's clean that Tom Watson's view of Tiger's situation changed into one of a kind from the media's... And, as a result, they reasoned that he might choose Tiger because of the "pressure" to put Tiger at the team for TV scores or some thing other purpose they may give you. And it's similarly clean that the nine Ryder Cup crew participants desired Tiger on the team as nicely... And it is difficult for me to accept as true with that turned into a reputation contest in preference to a choice to win.

So I'm losing my faith in the media's ability to give me any accurate info about Tiger. I can't wait to see them backpedal once Tiger gets healthy and starts winning again with his... hmmm, this will be his fifth swing, won't it? ;-)

Okay, rant over. We now resume our regularly scheduled golf events... With out Tiger. Even if the media can not recognize why.