"I wouldn't mind that."

Thanks to readers Adam and Jon for catching Tiger's appearance on CNBC to plug the latest swollen spatula from Nike. You can see the video here, but be warned, lots of lame questions from giggly anchors.

I loved that Tiger pointed out how this latest ugly thing you won't find in his bag "sounds a lot better."

Eric Pfahler writes up the interview but mysteriously leaves out a key, key comment.

While other professional sports have standardized equipment, golfers have lots of leeway, though there is some debate about using a standardized golf ball.

“I don’t see how we could get the entire industry to (believe) and go with that,” Woods said. “There would be some serious fighting going on if that was the case because that’s what separates us from other sports.

“It could happen. Augusta threatened to do it, but they just lengthened the golf course so we’re playing from downtown Augusta. We’ll see what happens down the road.”

Whatever technological advances there are in the future could change the game even more, Woods said.

“Seven years, our entire industry’s changed,” Woods said. “How’s it going to be 15 years from now? I don’t know.” 

But this kinda key answer was left out, as you'll see on the video.

Asked about a ball rollback:

"I wouldn't mind that."

Works for me!

Comments

[Andy Brown]

The question of standardization of equipments is a very relevant one and something that is worth considering. The greatest case in point being formula one where the same question applies. Should all teams be made to drive a car with similar engine so that it is the driver outdoing the competition and not the car that does the job for him. After all with a superior car it is not difficult to be gracing the podium each time. Of course with Golf the disparity is not this great but then these days golfers have all kinds of things in their bag, hybrids to rescue clubs to what not, leaving you uncertain whether it is a level playing field.

Unfortunately with so much of money in the game it is difficult to envisage a situation where you find the different golf equipment companies making their peace with it. The USGA sometime back had written a letter to the golf ball manufacturers to build prototype balls that would be 15-25 yards shorter in distance compared to the balls presently in the market for the pros but it was an idea that was met with a lot of resistance. Quite obviously you cannot expect them to be able to use these golf stars in their advertising campaigns advocating the cause of super distance balls which the pros themselves cannot use. Seeing the amount of money that rides on the game these days it seems like a difficult proposition but one which must be given some thought. Skill and shotmaking ability should be the governing factors that determines a champion and not the equipment in the bag.

http://www.golfswingsecretsrevealed.com/blog/2007/05/30/raising-the-next-tiger-woods/

[sodface]

People have speculated that TW would be even more dominant with a rollback, so I'm not entirely surprised to hear this--even if this revelation doesn't get any traction in the "MSM".

[iacas]

I'm with sodface. Go back to the gutta percha and Tiger would win every week.

[jneu]

As ringing endorsements go, "I wouldn't mind that" isn't exactly headline material. It's not like he said, "I'm in favor of it."

[Charles R. Butler]

Anything that lengthens the courses favors the bombers, including rolling back the ball.

Everyone hates bomb and gouge, but lengthening courses and rolling back the ball both play into that philosophy.

What, are they going to start playing member tees for Tour events after the ball is rolled back? No, they'll play the same length, and the bombers will be even more dominant.

jneu is right, too. It's notlike he's out there campaigning. I think he has more important stuff on his mind.

[Golf Fan]

Charles is right, 52 weeks minus 16 tournaments equals 36 weeks to figure out what he needs to do next.