I heard today what many have said about Tiger Woods lately from a friend of mine as we watched the 2012 British Open over a few cigarellos. Today Tiger is on the first page of the leaderboard at -3 after the first round. My friend shared his opinion on how Woods will never be the same again regarding him not having success since the "2009 scandal". Basically hating on him like the media and critics loves to do since. Of course I for some reason I stepped in to correct and educate my friend in Tiger's defense. I have always respected the talent of Woods but I never really was a fan, just because I do not always root for the public favorite.
But, after the scandal and the scroll of broads got unrolled. I seemed to take a whole new liking to this guy as everyone else started turning their backs on him. That is how the public is, and my friend was no different with comments that implied he was washed up and a has been. To me that is hilarious because comments are made with no real understanding of what Woods is dealing with. Most people do not know competitive success or what it takes takes to be a winner in sports. I grew up living golf 24/7 in my teen years in my 20's I dabbled as a professional golfer who traveled a little bit on a few scrub mini-tours. And by no means was I anybody but I do know out-of-town women are intrigued by a man who is traveling as a golf pro. I have a few stories of my own. I could only imagine how awesome it would be if you had the status of the likes of Tiger Woods. So with my background of life on the road and my own women experiences. I felt qualified me to offer my 2 cents on letting my friend know a different perspective of what is success/failure from a different point of view...Not the media's and the public fake perception of what is right or wrong for a model citizen. And for Tiger Woods, if he is not winning every 3-4 starts he is losing. the average public hater just hates and says "He is fucking up and he is done!"
Here is my theory.
He went from top of the golf world setting win records with a hidden pimp lifestyle every man wants to live. I do no care what a woman says or what her man says to make her happy.......EVERY man wants that life. Huge money, fame, success, the power to do as you please, and 19 holes to choose from.
Instantly take that life away from a champion and that recipe for winning turns to nothing for 2-3 years.......Shocker huh? Do not get me wrong. Woods can still play his ass off but finishing 28th is no prize for a man of Woods caliber. Now as of late in 2012 he has begun to win again and the ole haters are coming back out of the woodworks. I think Tiger has hidden out long enough to let the media mayhem blow over and now I think Tiger has got some tail on the side again. I am happy for the guy to move on. You have to let a player play and you can't damn sure can't hold a true pimp down for long before they re-take control of the game. Tiger is an animal, he is a man. Do not lock him in a cage and deprive him of what he needs and then expect him to perform!
People think he has gotten his golf game together again now. I just say he has built a secret small team of dimes again and nowhe can resume dominance business usual. Very simple. People may not understand this but Tiger's formula will definitely be different from yours so what completes your mental puzzle may not be quite as bad ass as Tiger's puzzle. So take that in consideration before you bash him.
Woods racked up 70+ PGA Tour wins with 14 majors all in a fairly short amount of his career up to the era of the 2009 2:30 AM SUV fiasco. Tiger Woods was dominate no doubt in every aspect of his career and in public life up UNTIL his personal and professional life clashed in 2009. Golf is a mostly a mental game F.Y.I. and from that late night disaster at 2:30 in the morning after his wife had just learned that her husband was up for 2009 Pimp Of The Year. After those facts came out he was not able to focus like the Eye Of The Tiger we all know. Hmmmmmmm, I wonder why?
Tiger has been forced to all of a sudden go cold turkey by losing all of his tools for success and then be expected to have the same mindset to win. For those who do not understand the mind of a golfer. On the course when your mind is cluttered with bad thoughts and negativity, you seem to start hitting bad shots and start missing putts. Before you know it. The skills that you take for granted get harder and harder to find. I did not have the same experience as him but my world was in dismay towards my end and I know the feeling of not being able to focus. I mentally could not pull it together when money troubles became mixed with my social life. I understand what it feels like to lose it carding a 84 in my last round as a golf pro and feeling like garbage.
There is truth to the funny phrase coined in the golf movie Happy Gilmore. I am talking about when Chubbs was attempting to coach Happy Gilmore to success. He kept repeating "You have to find your happy place". Chubbs theory behind that Happy needed to channel his bad thoughts and negative outside stimuli into "Happy thoughts". The ability to do that will result in success.
The only thing Wood's ever did wrong was get married. Usually a fuck up move for any man who wants long-term happiness and success. And for Woods, that decision was a dumb and costly one. He should have known better and not caved in to public pressure.
To have the success at that level you must be clicking on all cylinders. Every athlete is different in what allows them to perform. Apparently for Tiger, the formula for success was 19 girlfriends.
I wish Tiger the best of luck in the future and I am actually like I stated before, I am rooting for the poor guy if you have not noticed.