Even the most ardent Tiger fans would have to admit that the day's not far away when Tigermania will reach Tigersaturation. For some golf fans, it's already here. LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- So, will Tiger Woods do it? Not just win the PGA Championship this weekend at Valhalla, but keep on winning, and winning, and winning, ad nauseum, until the game of golf is followed only by drooling sycophants and people hopelessly addicted to plaid pants?
Even the most ardent Tiger fans would have to admit that the day's not far away when Tigermania will reach Tigersaturation. For some golf fans, it's already here.
I mean, everywhere you turn, it's Tiger this and Nike that. Tiger's dad talking about Tiger's will to win. Tiger's contract with Nike Golf. Tiger's red shirts on Sundays. Tiger's Buick endorsement. Tiger's college teammates talking about Tiger's life at Stanford. Tiger's fun tricks with a pitching wedge.
All this, plus the TV types will surely provide live coverage of at least 99 percent of Tiger's strokes this weekend on the course. Hey, they're all about giving the public what it wants, and right now, it wants Tiger, in unprecedented numbers.
But as much as I want to don my curmudgeon hat and rant about how this will kill all interest in the sport, it's hard to begrudge the guy his credit. He's merely the most amazing golfer to stroll a fairway since the Golden Bear burst onto the scene 40 years ago. In public, he's the consummate professional -- a nice, if somewhat boring, guy.
Last month in Scotland, he won the British Open and completed the career Grand Slam, at 24 the youngest of the five players to accomplish the feat. This weekend, he is the odds-on favorite to win the PGA and make history, becoming the first golfer to win three majors in one year since Ben Hogan turned the trick in 1953.
He's a phenomenon, no question. And still . . .
Part of me has to wonder if the fervor over Tiger is one part golf interest and three parts hero worship. As a society, we tend to deify successful athletes and turn them into icons for their generation. Note the comparisons to Michael Jordan, whose silhouette has literally become an icon for Nike clothing.
And as we all know, it's easy to cheer for the favorite. It's less risky -- you're more likely to have a happy Monday morning if you identify yourself as a Tiger fan. Or a Yankee fan, or a Laker fan, etc.
It also brings out the worst in fans who often ignore golf etiquette in their pursuit of a glimpse of Tiger on the course. According to reports from last week's Buick Open, a throng of fans trampled Hal Sutton's ball as they gathered to watch Tiger play on an adjacent hole. Sutton's frustration was evident, and understandable.
Again, it's not that I don't understand the appeal of Tiger Woods.
But in the process of cheering for "your" guy this weekend, don't forget about the Hal Suttons of the world.
Other Donnelly Columns:
August 10, 2000: Ranting On Dennis Miller
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