Tiger: king of the jungle

As I picked my fantasy team this week on the Best Ball Golf Challenge on ESPN.com, all I was hoping for were a few a good picks that would help to escape my perpetual rank of 22,984. However, it figures that my team (Kim, Harrington, Mahan, and Romero) is probably going to see one, and maybe two, of its four make the cut. As I looked at the scores today, I wondered to myself, 'why is that when I choose the young guns with potential like Adam Scott and Bubba Watson, or even Steve Stricker, to face up against Tiger, they crash and burn, yet when Tiger isn't in the field, they shine?'

I'm at a crossroads. No longer does my fantasy team concern me, even though it is a bit disheartening to put so much thought into a team that has successfully sank to the depths of failure every time Thursday comes around. The truth is, for every blog I have written, I have felt compelled to mention Tiger, whether commenting on his individual dominance or unique affect he has on other players. I've discussed his persistent efforts to improve his putting, which have paid off; his mixture of mechanics and feel that make for pin-point iron shots and drives that are pounded 300+ yards consistently. And then of course is his mental game, which no longer needs to be discussed because his mental confidence has ultimately pummeled all others' into oblivion.

However, that is only the case when he is in the field.

This week will be another story. Adam Scott and some guy named Johnson Wagner started their rounds off with 9-under 63. I don't know what to say other than 'woopty doo.' Being an avid golfer, I am aware of how difficult it is to shoot under par, let alone how much more difficult the courses these pros are playing as opposed to say the muni course around the block; so hopefully Scott and Wagner will feel no animosity. But at the same time, just as I have felt compelled to mention Tiger, so too do I feel compelled to approach Scott after his 63, Stricker after his 66 and Watson after his 68 and say, if it isn't too bold of me, 'Where the hell was that when Tiger was playing against you?' The way I see it, the only reason Ogilvy has been getting so much press lately is not because he played miraculously against Tiger, but simply because at the end of a tournament that Tiger Woods was involved in, his name was not atop the leader board, but instead a somewhat familiar aussie who clinched a US Open a couple years back. More than anything, I think I just hate knowing that guys who are leading this week will not play like this the next time Tiger is in the field.

But then again, I wonder to myself, am I being too harsh? Should I sympathize/empathize with these pros who are working their butts off to play the best golf they can week in and week out and understand that each week produces different results? I want to be as sympathetic as I can, but I can't help but think back to how Tiger plays consistently spectacular. What is the difference? Preparation? Desire? Natural ability?

I love golf and all aspects of the game. I consistently look forward to watching any tournament that is on t.v., but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't more appeal to watch when Tiger is playing. I wish guys like Luke Donald or Adam Scott captivated me the way Tiger did, and maybe at some point in the future they will, but as of right now, Tiger remains the king of the jungle.