As the PGA Tour begins its final major of the 2008 season the FedEx Cup and Ryder Cup leader boards are surprising, to say the least at the top of the FedEx Cup Points sits Kenny Perry one of the games best drivers of the golf ball while being one of the streakiest putters around. His decision to play in events which play to his strengths have certainly paid off despite the double points and bonus points awarded for the Ryder and FedEx Cup's, respectively. Perry, now with three wins is a lock for Ryder Cup next month being contested in his home State of Kentucky.
With little over two months away from the grandest team event in all of golf, the US Ryder Cup team sits poised to reverse the unfortunate, shellackings they have received over the past 3 events, particularly the two most recent 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 embarrassments. The team now consists of 5 veterans and three rookie's that are mathematically on the team at this juncture. Additionally the next four players in point totals have absolutely no prior ryder cup play and only one of those four (Stricker '06) has any Presidents Cup experience, as well.
A mere week after capturing his 14th Major, Tiger Woods undergoes ACL reconstructive Knee Surgery to repair ligaments he tore while running at home after the 2007 British Open. According to tigerwoods.com his doctors are pleased with the results and doubtful any long term effects will arise from the procedure, his fouth on the left knee in 10 years.
In a statement released Tiger Woods said, "It was important to me to have the surgery as soon as possible so
that I could begin the rehabilitation process,... "I am very appreciative of Dr. Rosenberg and Dr. Cooley and
his staff's guidance and look forward to working with them through the
necessary rehabilitation and training.
"I look forward to working hard at my rehabilitation over the coming months and returning to the PGA Tour healthy next year."
As Tiger is now out for the remainder of the 2008 season what and Who will drive the PGA Tour and 2nd Annual FedEx Cup. It is no secret that Woods drives revenues, ratings, and a whole lot more. This past week NBC had 13.8 millions viewers for Sunday's primetime final round, more than double any other single program. How will the PGA tour and Tim Finchem (Commissioner) repackage the sport for the next 6+ months and how will they fill the void Woods occupies. The rest of the elite talent on the PGA tour will have to step up and not one at a time then to fall away from the leaderboard the next several weeks, the way Trevor (Immelman) and Sergio (Garcia) have after their respective wins (Masters and TPC).
Tiger Woods said in his Trophy presentation speech that he would be shutting it down for a while, we didn't think it would be this long. According to the Golf Channel and confirmed by tigerwoods.com, Tiger Woods has announced that he will undergo season ending knee surgery that will involve reconstructive work on his ACL and to relieve a a double stress fracture he acquired a couple of weeks before the Open. Sources say he should be back to 100% for the 2009 season. Read More (theburiedlead.com)
Saturday evening in the press room, just after draining a 40 foot eagle putt to secure the 54 hole lead Rocco Mediate grabbed a mic and with the patented Rocco grin ear to ear asked Tiger Woods that very question "are you out of your mind". The drama to ensue over the next two days will not be forgotten anytime soon. Was it the greatest game ever played, maybe.
The USGA released the pairing sheets for Thursday/Friday. Tiger Woods - world #1 will play with Phil Mickelson - world #2 and Adam Scott - world #3. Scott, come Thursday will have his hands full as Woods and Mickelson as professionals have a combined 9 victories on the South Course, (Tiger 6, Phil 3). Adam Scott will need to throw up his best armor, inside and outside of the ropes to ignore the frenzy that will become the US Open. The galleries are sure to be bottle-necked as they are ushered around the arduous seaside layout, among the cliffs and surrounding office park.
At the PGA Championship Media Day (Oakland Hills, Bloomfield, MI) Tiger Woods via satellite addressed the media re: Oakland Hills, his health, the state of his game and a few other odds/ends. In so many words Woods stated "I'm Ready", when asked if he wound play next week if it were not the Open he said unequivocally, Yes.
Kenny Perry has joined the rarefied air of Tiger Woods, capturing his third victory at the Memorial ('91, '01, '08). Perry, on a Sunday where all other front runners faltered and flourished in small doses, Kenny Perry plodded along to a final round 69, a full two shots better than the other top ten finishing averages of Weir, Kelly, Rose, Donald, Ogilvy and others.
Long time commissioner and TPC tournament originator Deane Beman may have finally come up with a phrase to aptly describe the last three finishing holes at TPC Sawgrass. As seen on NBC's Saturday broadcast Beman called in to say after all these years of searching he may have a name for this risk/reward stretch of golf, " the gauntlet". An open challenge, which over the years and certainly in the past few years these three holes have become. Many players have seized and squandered the Championship during this stretch where the entire gamut of golfing possibilities awaits.
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As Tiger is now out for the remainder of the 2008 season what and Who will drive the PGA Tour and 2nd Annual FedEx Cup. It is no secret that Woods drives revenues, ratings, and a whole lot more. This past week NBC had 13.8 millions viewers for Sunday's primetime final round, more than double any other single program. How will the PGA tour and Tim Finchem (Commissioner) repackage the sport for the next 6+ months and how will they fill the void Woods occupies. The rest of the elite talent on the PGA tour will have to step up and not one at a time then to fall away from the leaderboard the next several weeks, the way Trevor (Immelman) and Sergio (Garcia) have after their respective wins (Masters and TPC). 
Saturday evening in the press room, just after draining a 40 foot eagle putt to secure the 54 hole lead Rocco Mediate grabbed a mic and with the patented Rocco grin ear to ear asked Tiger Woods that very question "are you out of your mind". The drama to ensue over the next two days will not be forgotten anytime soon. Was it the greatest game ever played, maybe. 
